Technological advancements happen everyday, especially in the medical field. Research about genetic engineering has been going on for years, but a Sept. 23 article posted by MSN Money claims this generation will have the option to actually use genetic engineering on their children.

Originally pursued for health reasons, genetic engineering’s purpose was to eliminate the chances of disease, cancer, etc. in children before they were diagnosed with an illness. And individuals question if genetic engineering is “playing God.”

Being cancer-free may not matter when parents have the opportunity to select hair and eye color before their child is born.

“When you get any type of change or manipulation to genes, it is going against that we are made in the image of God,” said Father Ken Anderson of St. Mary’s Parish, 302 Fisk Ave.

Anderson added that even if genetic engineering was used solely for medicinal purposes, he still does not approve of it.

Other local religious officials hold different beliefs.

“Genetic engineering is something to be seen as only for medicinal purposes,” said Imam Shpendim Nadzaku of the Muslim Community center and Mosque,5921 Darlene Dr. in Rockford. “If it is to cure children of diabetes or some other disease, that’s something praise-worthy. If it is to tailor-make children, it is to say we are displeased with how God has made us and that we can make humans better than God could.”

Pastor Marty Marks of the Immanuel Lutheran Church in DeKalb agreed.

“I don’t know if there’s an official [Lutheran] stance, but in my opinion, I would say, generally speaking, I’m concerned about how it will be used,” said Pastor Marks.

Marks said a lot of good could come from genetic engineering, but it should be pursued carefully and only done for health reasons. Still, Marks had reservations.

“Different people will define medical reasons differently,” Marks said. “There is this concern of a slippery slope. Where do ‘medicinal’ reasons end and ‘aesthetic’ reasons begin? There should be restrictions in place on how genetic engineering will be used before it is carried out,” Marks said.

Genetically engineering children for health reasons sounds like a good idea, but doubts remain about how controlled this process will be in the future. Wouldn’t a parent love their child no matter what their eye or hair color is?

If genetic engineering is not restricted to medicinal purposes, say goodbye to the notion of loving children unconditionally and hello to a society more obsessed with aesthetics.