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A book lies open in the middle, propped up by a book stand. Out of focus, in the background are several other books and religious artifacts.

Scientist have begun to bring together stem cells that reorganize themselves to form ebryo-like structures. It won’t be long before they’ll be able to engineer different kinds of tissues and organs — perhaps even features of mature humans, according to Carol Zimmer of the New York Times.

That means now is the time to start thinking about rules and ethics of these synthetic embryos, or SHEEFs, according to a report by Harvard Medical School researchers.

There are the benefits: A SHEEF made up of a heart connected to a rudimentary brain can teach scientists about how nerves control heartbeats, Zimmer writes.

But Dr. John D. Aach said before scientists get too far ahead, there should be some established rules. For example, SHEEFs should never be created to feel pain.

Q. How does your faith help you weigh the benefits and ethical gray areas of stem-cell engineering?

My faith teaches me that humans are unique among all other creations in the universe, the only beings created in the image of God. As the Psalmist exclaims, “For You [God] formed my...