Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Sydney (Agenzia Fides) - If the House of Representatives approves the stem cell bill this week the decision would “waste government money on unproductive research”, said Cardinal George Pell Archbishop of Sydney who added “if the House of Representatives repeats the mistake narrowly made in Senate we shall be pushed further and faster down a slippery slope”. Cardinal Pell made his comments ahead of a vote in the House of Representatives on controversial laws that allow the creation of cloned embryos for stem cell research .
The bill, approved on 7 November by the Senate, will now be debated by the House of Representatives and vote is expected before the end of the month.
Cardinal Pell expresses grave concern. “Ignorance and confusion abound on these matters, but principles of long-term importance are being broken and new moveable standards are being erected temporarily to be further ‘improved’ in the years ahead. Few Australians would know that the bill proposes to legalise the manufacture of cloned embryos with only one genetic parent; hybrid embryos with multiple genetic parents and embryos whose mother is an aborted girl foetus. Scientists propose to use the immature eggs (precursor cells) from aborted baby girls to create human embryos for experimentation and destruction”.
The Cardinal added: “Despite claims of researchers human embryonic stem cells have produced none of the cure foreshadowed. There is no evidence of medical breakthroughs which might justify the Federal Parliament in removing the protective barriers erected in 2002”
Cardinal Pell concluded: “Parliament should preserve the present legal protections on human life; not waste government money on unproductive research and be clear about what they are permitting now and preparing for in the future”.
Catholic observers say in Australia the debate on stem cells has been too hasty and superficial. The controversial law would allow the creation of cloned embryos for stem cell research. The Catholic Church in Australia expressed disappointment and anxiety when the bill was approved in the Senate, lamenting that even the MPs were not fully informed with regard to the Bill’s moral-scientific implications. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 27/11/2006 righe 28 parole 286)
