EUROPE/SPAIN - Unless this law is altered it will go down in history as one of the first in the world to authorise therapeutic cloning and open the door for reproductive cloning: Catholic Bishops voice serious concern with regard to proposed “Law on methods of assisted human reproduction”

Monday, 13 February 2006

Madrid (Fides Service) - The Catholic Bishops of Spain have expressed serious concern with regard to a proposed Law on methods of assisted human reproduction to be discussed soon in Parliament. In a statement the Bishops affirm that “economic and political interests prevent a serious debate on themes of utmost importance”. Aware their intervention may be interpreted by many as “religious prejudice of a social group which opposes scientific progress”, the Bishops refuse to remain silent in the face of this serious attack on the human person since it is their duty to “announce the Gospel of life and offer our society authentic service”.
“Methods which take the place of personal intercourse between parents in procreation are contrary to the dignity of the human person, damage the person and attack life in its earliest stage, the children” the Bishops warn. Highlight the problems of the law, they say that unless it is modified the law “will go down in history as one of the first in the world to authorise therapeutic cloning opening the door for reproductive cloning”. The law, the Bishops say, “allows the production of human embryos not for reproduction but as material for investigation. This would encourage commercialisation and trafficking and industrial use of human embryos called remainders" since the law puts no limits to research of the number of embryos to be generated.
Another serious flaw in the law is that it would allow the eugenic selection of so called “medicine babies” or “babies born simply in view of certain therapeutic objectives”, and fertilising of animal eggs with human sperm, “a practice of unforeseeable consequences, condemned by several international agreements”. In the face of this concerning situation the Bishops encourage Spanish Catholics to say “no” to this law and “yes” to human dignity and justice. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 13/2/2006 - righe 26, parole 353)


Share: