Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Cordova (Fides Service) - “It is impossible to promote or even to respect the common good, without putting the value and sublime value of every human person at the centre of the interest and decision making of all, public authorities especially”: this was stated in the Conclusions of the 4th International Conference on Bio-Ethics, Human Dignity and Common Good held 27-28 October in Cordova (Spain) organised by the International Federation of Personalistic Bio-Ethics.
It emerged that much remains to be done to recognise the common good. “In present day culture it would appear to be difficult to know what is the common good and even more difficult to be committed to it”. “Generous search for the common good” is hampered by spreading moral relativism, individualism and hedonism and uncertainty with regard to the foundation of human dignity.
“The human person deserves absolute respect - the conclusions read - as a person, as a member of the human family. The dignity of the person is not attributed, it is recognised, it is not granted, it is respected. It is written in every human heart”. It is necessary in this sense to eradicate “discriminatory distinction between born and unborn human persons” and all destructive manipulation of human embryos because “for the common good, scientific reality must not be falsified, people must not be led to think that embryonic stem cells can cure disease”, when the truth is very different.
The participants promise to “foster the common good, centred on the well-being of every human person” and they call on the social society, authorities especially, to do the same.
Besides bio-ethics, the Conference discussed the situation in third world countries, access to healthcare, prospects for the common good with special attention to explain concepts of dignity, person and common good in theoretic and practical areas connected with Bio-ethics, and the moral challenges exposed in present day pharmaceutical research. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 30/10/2006 righe: 26 parole: 267)
