SHARING FAITH, SHARING LIFE The Miracleof Organ and Tissue Donation

Power of Prayer Tracey Amadi’s life was saved when she and her son participated in a kidney paired exchange program. Her son, not a match for Tracey herself, donated his kidney to a woman whose husband donated a kidney to Tracey. Since being given her second chance at life, Tracey‘s mission is to share the message of organ and tissue donation, particularly within churches and other houses of worship. “This is the first step… and it could possibly save the life of someone in your congregation.” Donation Supported by Rabbi After a terrorist bombing took his daughter’s life in Israel, Stephen Flatow made the heroic decision to donate his daughter’s organs to Israelis needing transplants. He made the decision after consulting with his rabbi, who told him “The greatest mitzvah, the greatest deed you can do is to save someone’s life.”

In God’s Hands At 23, Edmund Luciano was studying to become a Roman Catholic priest when he began having chest pains. He would later be told he needed a new heart. A heart transplant enabled him to become an ordained priest. Father Luciano urges others in his congregation and community to spread God’s love by registering as an organ and tissue donor.

Hindu Faith Guides a Father’s Gift “My father, Sham Karnani, unexpectedly passed away in Temple on a Holy Day. He was a very spiritual follower of Hinduism, and we saw the spark in his eyes when a spiritual leader declared that organ donation is the best gift anyone can give. My father’s main passion for the last two decades was spreading awareness of organ and tissue donation. I am so proud that upon his passing, he gave the gift of sight to those who needed it most.” - Raj S. Karnani, son of donor Sham Karnani (pictured right)

To learn more, get involved and register as an organ and tissue donor, visit www.NJSharingNetwork.org Today, thousands in our New Jersey community—friends, family, and neighbors—are waiting for a life-saving transplant, and 18 people die each day because they did not receive one in time. NJ Sharing Network, the non- profit organization responsible for the recovery of organs and tissue for transplantation, is committed to saving and enhancing lives through the miracle of organ and tissue donation. Help spread this message of hope and life among your faith community during National Donor Sabbath in November and throughout the year. What does your religion say about donation?

AME & AME ZION HINDUISM MORMON Donation is viewed as an act of There is nothing in the Hindu religion In 2007, the Church of Latter Day Saints neighborly love and charity by these indicating that parts of humans cannot issued a statement on donation, which denominations. They encourage all be used to alleviate the suffering of read in part: “The donation of organs members to support donation as a way other humans. “The important issue for and tissue is a selfless act that often of helping others. a Hindu is that which sustains life should results in great benefit to individuals be accepted and promoted with medical conditions.” AMISH as Dharma (righteous living). Organ Approved if there is a definite indication donation is an integral part of our living,” PENTECOSTAL that the health of the recipient would says Hasmukh Velji Shah, international Pentecostals believe that the decision to improve, but reluctant if the outcome is trustee of the World Council of Hindus. donate should be left up to the questionable. individual. INDEPENDENT CONSERVATIVE ASSEMBLY OF GOD EVANGELICAL PRESBYTERIAN Donation is highly supported. In general, Evangelicals have no Presbyterians encourage and support opposition to donation. Each Church is donation. BAPTIST autonomous and leaves the decision to Baptist groups have supported organ donate up to the individual. QUAKERS and tissue donation as an act of charity Organ and tissue donation is believed to and leave the decision to donate up to ISLAM be an individual decision. the individual. The principle of saving lives is of utmost importance. Normally, ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH BUDDHISM violating the human body, whether Donation is viewed as an act of charity Buddhists believe organ and tissue living or dead, is forbidden in Islam – and love. Transplants are morally and donation is a matter that should be left but the Shariah (Muslim law) believes ethically acceptable to the Vatican. to an individual’s conscience. Reverend this can be overruled SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST Gyomay Masao Kubose, president and when saving another person’s life. founder of The Buddhist Temple of Donation and transplantation are Chicago said, “We honor those people JEHOVAH’S WITNESS strongly encouraged. who donate their bodies and organs to Donation is a matter of individual SIKH the advancement of medical science decision. Worldwide, there are currently and to saving lives.” The importance of more than 90,000 doctors who have The Sikh religion stresses the importance letting loved ones know your wishes is made it known that they are willing to of performing noble deeds, and saving a stressed. treat Jehovah’s Witnesses without blood. life is considered one of the greatest forms of noble deeds. Therefore, organ CHRISTIAN SCIENTIST JUDAISM donation is deemed acceptable to the Donation is left to the individual church All four branches of Judaism support Sikh religion. member. and encourage donation. UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST EPISCOPAL EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN Donation is widely supported and In 1982, a resolution was passed that CHURCH OF AMERICA viewed as an act of love and giving. recognizes the live-giving benefits There is no church law or theological UNITED METHODIST of blood, organ and tissue donation. All reason preventing Lutheran Christians Episcopalians are encouraged from choosing to be organ donors, and A 1984 policy statement notes that the to become donors. God’s promise to resurrect the dead is church “recognizes the life-giving not compromised by organ donation. benefits of organ and tissue donation, GREEK ORTHODOX and thereby encourages all Christians to Donation is supported as a way MENNONITE become organ and tissue donors.” to better human life through They believe the decision to donate is up transplantation or research. to the individual and/or their family.

To begin a faith-based initiative or to request a speaker or program at your house of worship, please contact Jay Arisso Jr. at [email protected] or 908-516-5615.