Don't use embryos in stem cell research, Pope says
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Benedict appealed to scientists on Thursday to stop using human embryos in stem cell research, saying it violated "the dignity of human life".
The Vatican is a proponent of stem cell research as long as it does not harm human embryos, which the Catholic Church holds are humans from the moment of conception.
"The destruction of human embryos, whether to acquire stem cells or for any other purpose, contradicts the purported intent of researchers, legislators and public health officials to promote human welfare," the Pontiff said.
The Church supports research on adult cells and even promising alternatives to embryonic research, like the use of amniotic fluid protecting fetuses in the uterus.
The Pope said such research methods "harmonize with the aforementioned intent (to promote human welfare) by respecting the life of the human being at every stage of his or her existence".
The Pontiff made his statements in a letter to South Korea's new ambassador to the Holy See.
South Korea earlier this year announced plans to removing some of the blocks to human embryonic stem cell research which had been in place since a 2006 scientific scandal involving forged data in stem cell studies.
© Reuters2007All rights reserved
The Vatican is a proponent of stem cell research as long as it does not harm human embryos, which the Catholic Church holds are humans from the moment of conception.
"The destruction of human embryos, whether to acquire stem cells or for any other purpose, contradicts the purported intent of researchers, legislators and public health officials to promote human welfare," the Pontiff said.
The Church supports research on adult cells and even promising alternatives to embryonic research, like the use of amniotic fluid protecting fetuses in the uterus.
The Pope said such research methods "harmonize with the aforementioned intent (to promote human welfare) by respecting the life of the human being at every stage of his or her existence".
The Pontiff made his statements in a letter to South Korea's new ambassador to the Holy See.
South Korea earlier this year announced plans to removing some of the blocks to human embryonic stem cell research which had been in place since a 2006 scientific scandal involving forged data in stem cell studies.
© Reuters2007All rights reserved
what does the catholic church know about "the dignity of human life"? all they care about is making more catholics. they are running out of priests and nuns. the payout on their court cases is hurting them financially. could there be any good reason to tell people not to use birth control. since they got one one of the crappy south american countries to ban abortion last year 84 women have died getting "so called" illegal ones . the only human life the catholic church cares about is the one that opens their wallets and pays up every sunday.
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