From Our Shepherds
Stem Cell Research/ Human Cloning
The Catholic Church is in favor of stem cell research, which has been used successfully to treat thousands of patients. But, the stem cells that are actually treating patients come from a patient’s own body or from umbilical cord blood, not from human embryos. The Catholic Church opposes the small percentage of research programs that obtain stem cells by killing human embryos.
"On this matter the position of the Church, supported by reason and by science, is clear: scientific research must be encouraged and promoted, so long as it does not harm other human beings, whose dignity is inviolable from the very first stages of existence."
Pope Benedict XVI
Vatican official condemns cloning of human embryos by US company A Vatican official condemned the reported cloning of human embryos and said the idea of using them to produce "personalized" therapeutic stem cells was morally illicit and pointless.
Such cloning represents "the worst type of exploitation of the human being," Bishop Elio Sgreccia, president of the Pontifical Academy for Life, told Vatican Radio Jan. 18. CNS 01/19/2008
MA BISHOPS’ STATEMENT ON ADVANCES IN STEM CELL RESEARCH The four Catholic bishops of Massachusetts have called upon the state Legislature and Gov. Deval L. Patrick to revise biotechnology and stem cell research plans for the state by using recently announced scientific advances that can allow human skin cells to be turned into cells that are very similar, but not identical to embryonic stem cells. Telegram 12/20/2007
Stem Cell Breakthrough Advances Science Without “Ethical Landmines,” Says Cardinal The following statement was released by Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia, chairman of the Committee for Pro-Life Activities at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops:
“Studies published this week in the journals Cell and Science offer new hope for advancing stem cell research and therapies while fully respecting the dignity of human life. USCCB
Halt embryonic stem-cell research and protect human life, insists the Pope
Pope Benedict issued a plea to all scientists today to stop using human embryos for research because it violates their God-given human dignity. Pope Benedict was adamant in condemning the destruction and manipulation of embryonic humans: "discoveries in this field invite man to a deeper awareness of the weighty responsibilities involved in their application," and "under no circumstances may a human being be manipulated or treated as a mere instrument for experimentation.” CNA 10/11/2007
Of Cybrids, Hybrids, & Chimeras
Learning from the U.K. battle over human-animal hybrids
"While respecting contrary views, I personally believe that as a nation we should reject any form of human-non-human hybrid formation on the same grounds for which I and millions of Americans reject human cloning: human embryos have a privileged moral status and should not be treated as raw material for medical research." read article
Michigan Catholic Conference to campaign for study of adult stem cells
The Michigan Catholic Conference will launch a major education campaign this week aimed at promoting support for research using adult stem cells and clarifying the church's opposition to embryonic stem cell research. Learn more aboutthe "Finding Cures & Protecting Life" campaign. MCC 10/01/2007
Vatican decries "monstrous" British approval for hybrid embryos
The president of the Pontifical Academy for Life has said that the British decision to approve creation of "hybrid" human-animal embryos is "a monstrous act against human dignity." Bishop Elio Sgreccia said the British government had "crumbled when confronted by requests from a group of immoral scientists." CWNNews 09/06/2007
St Louis Archdiocese supports new anti-cloning fight
"The Archdiocese of St. Louis commends and endorses the efforts of Cures Without Cloning," Archbishop Raymond L. Burke said in a written statement. "Cures Without Cloning is a broad-based, statewide coalition that seeks to clarify the confusing language of Amendment 2, narrowly ratified by voters in November 2006. 08/24/2007
Pope encourages adult stem-cell research "On this matter the position of the Church, supported by reason and by science, is clear: scientific research must be encouraged and promoted, so long as it does not harm other human beings, whose dignity is inviolable from the very first stages of existence." 06/27/2007
North Carolina: Bishop Burbidge Calls on Catholics to Help Defeat Bill to Fund Embryonic Stem Cell Research Bishop Michael F. Burbidge has called on Catholics to contact their state representatives, registering their opposition to House Bill 1837. The bill, if approved and signed into law, would provide state funding for embryonic stem cell research. 06/25/2007
Cardinal Rigali Commends President Bush for Veto of Destructive Embryo Research Bill “I commend President Bush today for vetoing S. 5, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act. This bill would not actually enhance stem cell research, but divert federal funds away from legitimate research toward avenues requiring the destruction of innocent human life. The cause of science is not enhanced but diminished when it loses its moral compass. 06/20/2007
USCCB Official Comments on Approval of Bill to Fund Stem Cell Research Requiring the Destruction of Human Embryos “Today the House of Representatives again approved a bill to fund stem cell research requiring the destruction of human embryos (S. 5), 247 to 176. The margin of support was a bit lower than in January, when a similar bill passed 253 to 174, despite the recent addition of language supporting morally noncontroversial stem cell research that was designed to invite more support. The President will veto this bill, and his veto will be sustained." 06/07/2007
USCCB: New Studies Show Promise for Ethical Stem Cell Research “Because adult cell reprogramming does not pose the moral problem of creating or destroying embryos, or of exploiting women for their eggs, it may offer a way for people of all faiths and ethical backgrounds to use, subsidize, and enjoy any benefits from pluripotent stem cell research. This would be a gain for science, ethics and society. 06/07/2007
Cardinal Rigali Urges House To Reject Two Federal Bills Promoting Taxpayer-Funded Destruction Of Human Embryos“I urge you to vote against S. 5, and against the DeGette bill allowing cloning for research purposes – on behalf of taxpayers who should not be forced to help destroy innocent life, and on behalf of genuine progress for suffering patients,” the Cardinal said. 06/06/2007
Cardinal Pell warns lawmakers on support for cloning Cardinal George Pell of Sydney, Australia, has urged all Catholic legislators to oppose a measure that would allow "therapeutic" cloning in New South Wales. "It is a serious moral matter," the cardinal said. "Catholic politicians who vote for this legislation must realize that their voting has consequences for their place in the life of the Church." 06/05/2007
U.S. Bishops, Pro-life groups decry Senate’s decision to Pass Bill funding destruction of human life “Many members of Congress remain dazzled by irresponsibly hyped promises of ‘miracle cures’ from the destruction of human embryos, although experts in the field increasingly admit that treatments from this avenue may be decades away,” said Mr. Doerflinger. “This debate continues to divert attention and resources away from the demonstrated therapeutic promise of morally sound research using adult and cord blood stem cells. Not only embryonic human beings, but suffering patients and their families, are victims of the Senate’s fixation on destructive research.” 04/13/2009
Cardinal Rigali urges Senate to Reject Stem Cell Legislation Promoting Destruction of Human Life As the U.S. Senate prepared to vote on federal funding of stem cell research next week, Cardinal Justin Rigali urged Senators to reject legislation (S. 5) which would promote the destruction of human embryos to obtain their stem cells. “With enactment of such legislation, federal law would for the first time force taxpayers to encourage deliberate attacks on innocent human life in the name of medical progress,” the Cardinal said.
Cardinal Rigali noted, ethically sound research using non-embryonic cells has continued to advance, helping patients with over 70 conditions in clinical trials (see www.stemcellresearch.org04/05/2007
Catholic bishops, bio-ethicists welcome stem cell breakthrough 04/04/2007
Pro-Life Official Welcomes Briefing on Cloning Agenda’s Risks to Women Deirdre A. McQuade, Director of Planning and Information for the Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities, said: "The embryonic stem cell agenda is a threat not only to embryonic humans but to young women as well." 03/08/2007
New Mexico Bishops oppose stem cell stance New Mexico's three Catholic bishops met with Gov. Bill Richardson on Thursday to urge him to reconsider proposed state funding for embryonic stem cell research. 01/26/2007
Bishops call on Catholics to be educated, speak out on stem-cell research The bishops of North Carolina are calling on the state’s 400,000 Catholics to learn more about embryonic stem-cell research and to join them in defeating pending legislation that will likely recommend state funding. 01/23/2007
USCCB official says House embryonic stem cell bill “misguided and unethical” Following the United States House of Representatives’ decision to pass H.R. 3, a bill that would remove current limits on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, Richard Doerflinger, Deputy Director of the Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops voiced criticism and argued that Congress should back the type of ethical stem cell research that is supported by most Americans. 01/15/2007
Bishops Urge House To Reject Bill Destroying Human Embryos, Support More Promising, Ethical Stem Cell Research “In considering your vote on H.R. 3, then, I urge you first to consider the fundamental moral line Congress would cross if it approves this legislation,” he said also. “The federal government has never taken the crass utilitarian approach of forcing taxpayers to support the direct killing of innocent human life, at any stage of development, in the name of ‘progress.’ 01/10/2007
Vatican official welcomes amniotic stem-cell advance The Church, the cardinal pointed out, does not object to stem-cell research in itself, but to the harvesting in which human embryos are destroyed in order to obtain stem cells. The use of amniotic fluid involves no such destruction of human life. 01/09/2007
Fact vs. Politics on Stem Cells by Richard M. Doerflinger (USCCB)
Pope: Scientific progress is God's plan if it doesn't threaten life
Healing Our Blindness: A homily by Bishop Paul S. Loverde W hy does the Church teach that abortion, physician-assisted suicide and embryonic stem-cell research are attacks on human life and are therefore evil and sinful? Why does the Church teach that marriage is the union of one man with one woman — and only that? Why? Because She desires to lead us to the fullness of truth, so that, living in the Truth and by the Truth, we can uphold the common good.
Cardinal Pell renews plea against embryo research "Few Australians would know that the bill proposes to legalise the manufacture of cloned embryos with only one genetic parent; hybrid embryos with multiple genetic parents, and embryos whose mother is an aborted girl fetus," the cardinal told the Telegraph.
Archbishop Burke: Catholics must create culture of life after election loss The passage of a measure that allows embryonic stem-cell research and cloning in Missouri is a “clarion call” to all Catholics and people of goodwill to rededicate themselves to the creation of a culture of life in the state, said the archbishop of St. Louis.
Diocese says November election is crucial in embryonic stem-cell debate
Catholic Church Not Opposed to All Stem Cell Research, Priest Says
Science, technology and ethics must all coalesce in stem cell research, says Pope
Holy See and Catholic doctors organize congress on stem cells
Embryo-safe’ stem-cell claims a ‘sham,’ Catholic bishops’ official says
Vatican Official Says Scientists Using Human Embryos Face Excommunication
Vatican: ‘Breakthrough technique’ in embryonic research does not satisfy moral test Bishop Elio Sgreccia, head of the Vatican's Pontifical Academy for Life, told Vatican Radio and Reuters that manipulating and experimenting with embryos is wrong.
U.S., Australian bishops say new study lies about claimed “ethical” methods of embryonic stem cell extraction Catholic Bishops in the United States and Australia continue to speak out in clarification of what constitutes ethical stem cell research as they respond to a new study which, they say, contains misrepresentations in its findings.
Catholic Official: New Study Provides No “Ethical” Road to Stem Cell Research
Cardinal Urges Senate: Support Two Bills on Stem Cell Research, Reject H.R. 810 With the U.S. Senate poised to consider three bills relating to bioethics and stem cell research, Cardinal William H. Keeler urged support for two of those bills—which, he said, respect both science and ethics—and rejection of a bill which would force taxpayers to support the destruction of early human life.
Patients Attest To Benefits Of Adult Stem Cell Research As patients and families who have benefited from adult stem cell treatments assembled in here to tell their stories, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities today reaffirmed the Church’s strong support for ethically acceptable stem cell research.
Catholic Church, Scientists Say New Embryonic Stem Cell Research Claims False In a rare agreement on the thorny issue of embryonic stem cell research, the Catholic Church and scientists who back the destructive research both agree that a California biotech firm's claims of creating a new method of obtaining embryonic stem cells without taking human life are false.
USCCB Official Commends President Bush for Statements, Actions Regarding Proposed Legislation on Stem Cell Research Richard M. Doerflinger, Deputy Director, Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), commended President Bush for his remarks and actions regarding proposed legislation on stem cell research.The President today (July 19) vetoed H.R. 810, which would have forced U.S. taxpayers to encourage the destruction of human embryos for their stem cells. He later gave an address at the White House.
USCCB Official Calls Passage of Embryonic Stem Cell Research Bill ‘A Disservice to Human Life’ Executive Director of the USCCB Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities, said that by approving a bill to encourage the destruction of human embryos for their stem cells “the U.S. Senate has done a disservice to human life and to the cause of medical progress.” Ms. Quinn commented on congressional action (July 18) regarding three stem cell research bills, including H.R. 810, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act.
Human Cloning
Bishops Official Comments On Human Cloning Hoax Commenting on Seoul National University's final report on the South Korean cloning scandal, which found that a team led by Dr. Woo-Suk Hwang had fabricated two major studies on human cloning, an official of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops called this hoax "the most obvious symptom of a field where ethical concerns were dismissed in the pursuit of alleged miracle cures."
Human Cloning Announcement ‘Sign of Moral Regress,' Says Cardinal Keeler Cardinal William Keeler said the announcement that South Korean scientists have used cloning to create and destroy dozens of human embryos "is a sign of moral regress."
Cardinal Keeler, Chairman of the Committee for Pro-Life Activities of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, said that "using this or any means to create innocent human lives solely to destroy them is an ultimate violation of research ethics."
Bishops Official Hails Passage of Bill to Ban Human Cloning The House of Representatives passed the Human Cloning Prohibition Act (H.R. 534) by an overwhelming vote of 244 to 151, Feb. 27. The Act, sponsored by Congressmen Dave Weldon (R-FL) and Bart Stupak (D-MI), prohibits human cloning for any purpose, but explicitly allows biomedical research involving the cloning of DNA, genes, tissues, organs, plants, animals, and cells other than human embryos. A similar bill, S. 245, has been introduced in the Senate.
Bishops Official Criticizes Bar Association For Supporting Human Cloning Today the American Bar Association ("ABA") at its annual convention passed a resolution opposing a ban on human cloning. The resolution, passed today by voice vote and with no member speaking against it, is aimed specifically against the Brownback/Landrieu ban on cloning now pending in the Senate, according to supporting documents.
