Zenit News
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill
- 14-01-2008
- Categorized in: News Releases
Bullet Point Summary of the Pastoral Letter from the Bishops of Scotland
* Early this year the Westminster Government will present legislation which would allow the creation of human-animal hybrid embryos. Such procedures are banned in other countries and have been described by the President of the Pontifical Academy for Life as a “monstrous act against human dignity.”
* This experimentation is backed by commercial interests who see in it the potential for profit. However, now the scientific community is increasingly appreciating that the use of adult stem cells is both ethically and practically a better solution than creating human (or hybrid) embryos to harvest for stem cells.
* The Catholic Church is likely to be criticised for seeking to influence the current debate in Parliament. This should not deter us from standing up for what is right. The Church has a democratic right to put forth arguments to assist politicians who seek to make a conscientious decision.
* The Church acknowledges and defends their right and duty of MPs to vote in such issues according to conscience. Their votes should reflect their ethical convictions in issues of justice and morality. There should therefore be a free vote in Parliament on this and related issues.
* In his recent encyclical, Spe Salvi. Pope Benedict XVI states: “Science can contribute greatly to making the world and mankind more human. Yet it can also destroy mankind and the world unless it is steered by forces outside it.” Such a steer can be provided by the wisdom of the ages, influenced by the word of God mediated through the Church’s teaching and expressed today by well-informed, conscientious decisions of men and women of good will and faith.
* It is this which gives the Bishops the confidence to write as they do, and to commend their case not only to our own people but to all who hold human life and its integrity in great respect.
* Early this year the Westminster Government will present legislation which would allow the creation of human-animal hybrid embryos. Such procedures are banned in other countries and have been described by the President of the Pontifical Academy for Life as a “monstrous act against human dignity.”
* This experimentation is backed by commercial interests who see in it the potential for profit. However, now the scientific community is increasingly appreciating that the use of adult stem cells is both ethically and practically a better solution than creating human (or hybrid) embryos to harvest for stem cells.
* The Catholic Church is likely to be criticised for seeking to influence the current debate in Parliament. This should not deter us from standing up for what is right. The Church has a democratic right to put forth arguments to assist politicians who seek to make a conscientious decision.
* The Church acknowledges and defends their right and duty of MPs to vote in such issues according to conscience. Their votes should reflect their ethical convictions in issues of justice and morality. There should therefore be a free vote in Parliament on this and related issues.
* In his recent encyclical, Spe Salvi. Pope Benedict XVI states: “Science can contribute greatly to making the world and mankind more human. Yet it can also destroy mankind and the world unless it is steered by forces outside it.” Such a steer can be provided by the wisdom of the ages, influenced by the word of God mediated through the Church’s teaching and expressed today by well-informed, conscientious decisions of men and women of good will and faith.
* It is this which gives the Bishops the confidence to write as they do, and to commend their case not only to our own people but to all who hold human life and its integrity in great respect.