ASIA/SOUTH KOREA - Catholic priest member of the National Council of Bio-Ethics: “Bio-technology must respect moral principles ”

Seoul (Fides Service) - A Catholic priest, Rev. Remigio Lee Dong-ik, has been appointed a member of a state National Council of Bio-Ethics charged with examining and evaluate matters of bio-ethics for the Korean Parliament. Rev Lee is executive secretary of the Koran Bishops Commission for Bio-Ethics. The Council was created in January as an advisory body to the President of Korea and a commission of experts able to clarify scientific and moral matters in keeping with Korea’s legislative assembly.
South Korea was recently in the news for attempted human cloning. With regard to his role in the Council Rev. Lee said it was to reaffirm the principle that “bio-technology must progress with respect for morals”. The Council has 14 members including doctors and legislators, Fr. Lee is the only priest invited to take part. His appointment was welcomed by the Korean Bishops who saw it as recognition of the Catholic Church’s competence and particular views in this delicate field on matters concerning human embryos, stem cells and ecology of life.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 19/4/2005 righe 26 parole 265)