ASIA/SOUTH KOREA - “We must offer hope to the world and promote a culture of life”: Bishops issue pastoral letter on bio-ethics and stem cell research

Seoul (Fides Service) - “The embryo is life. We have all been embryos. We have no right to meddle with human life” Bishop Francis Xavier Ahn Myong-ok, president of the Korean Bishops’ Commission for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Commission for Bio-Ethics said in a pastoral letter a copy of which was sent to Fides.
The letter presents and explains the position of the local Church with regard to experiments on human embryos by Korean scientist Dr. Hwang: “His research - the text reads - is a manipulation of human life, it offends the dignity of the human person by treating the embryo as an object of research and experiment”.
The Bishop also addresses the question of the use of embryonal stem cells in research to treat rare diseases: He said said that the use of stem cells from embryos is not the only way to treat patients with incurable diseases. Therapy with adult stem cells is already tested it is safe and poses no moral problems.
After these scientific remarks the Bishop encourages the faithful at the pastoral level to actively promote in daily life in society a culture of life. “We must offer hope to the world and promote a culture of life, proclaiming the Gospel of Life”.
(Agenzia Fides 21/07/2005 Righe: 21 Parole: 232)