The Sydney Catholic Archbishop, Cardinal George Pell, has opened a new front in the moral debate over the sanctity of embryonic life, saying the church would renew its push for a ban on the use of leftover embryos created during fertility treatment.
Australian laws permitting the use of excess embryos created through IVF before April 2002 are up for review this year, with a sunset clause expiring in April.
However, the Sydney Archdiocese is expected to at least double its overall contribution to adult stem cell research in the hope it will offer an ethical and more promising alternative to research on human embryos.
A first grant of $50,000 was awarded in 2003 to Griffith University to research the potential of stem cells extracted from the inner lining of a patient’s own nose to treat Parkinson’s disease.
Applications for a second medical research grant of at least $50,000 were expected to be called for shortly.
Cardinal Pell said he would be prepared to involve himself in lobbying efforts, if necessary, to bring about a national ban on embryonic stem cell research.
While scientists hope stem cells – the building blocks of all types of tissue – will provide future breakthrough treatments for diseases such as diabetes and Parkinson’s, pro-lifers oppose the use of embryos because they are destroyed in the process.
"I think Christian leaders have a duty to speak out on some moral issues and this is one," Cardinal Pell said. [Source]
This is an excellent tactical approach the Cardinal has taken. To not only condemn ESCR but to help to fund adult stem-cell research. This helps more people to see the difference between the two and to keep others from framing the debate in that the Church is against science.
"If I thought it would help I would be prepared to speak. We are not in favour of producing human beings to destroy them for scientific purposes.
"Human life is not a commodity. Life is a right in itself and it has to be respected and we’ve got no right to destroy innocent life."
11 comments
Archbishop Pell is one of the most outspoken bishops when it comes to moral issues and the evil of heresy. We need a few more bishops like him!
Amen! I also love the way he puts things- intelligently and with credibility.
Cardinal George Pell is a welcome throw back to the old style churchman, an autocratic blowhard, stuffed with shallow piety, perhaps best described by that delightful Aussie term �wowser�. George is a constant reminder of the spiritual moribundity of the modern Catholic Church and his very presence must make reformers smile with glee.
Jeff old son, very few people have a problem with the church telling their own, largely ignored, female followers that they can�t control their own fertility. However, when the George Pell�s of this world attempt to dictate fertility conditions to non-catholic women, folk will do what they�ve increasingly been doing to the Catholic Church for the last century and simply ignore it.
Archbishop Pell is first and foremost a priest, which means he was ordained to fight the works of Satan and save souls.
As bishop, his role is that of the Apostles, with whom he is linked to (Apostolic Succession), which means he is ordained to promote and safeguard the truth as taught by the two sacred sources, Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition. This includes teaching people about the Natural Moral Law, about the Four Last Things and how we should prepare for death, face judgment with a clean soul, and enter into Heaven in a state of habitual grace (a.k.a., sanctifying grace).
We will know how much we have turned against God at the Particular Judgment when the soul will either be rewarded or punished. This is why sin is a serious matter which any good bishop would preach against.
Saint Augustine said that sin is “any thought, word, or deed against the law of God” so it is the archbishop’s duty to reach the consciences of the sinners, so they can form a correct conscience and become a saint, a friend of God, a citizen of Heaven.
For the Archbishop not to speak against abortion, fetal stem-cell research, or birth control would be a grave sin on his part, what
the Church calls the “sin of omission.”
Even if the archbishop saves only one person from sin, he will be rewarded greatly in Heaven.
Jeff,
Why do you put up with the mean, disrepectful posts of “J”?
J thinks himself to be much smarter than you or anyone who has any respect for embryonic life at all.
But if he’s so smart, how does he come up with a comment that has nothing to do with the topic of the post? The Cardinal was talking about using embryos for research. He said nothing about women (Catholic or otherwise) controlling “their own fertility.”
What an a**hole!
“…folk will do what they�ve increasingly been doing to the Catholic Church for the last century and simply ignore it.”
Absolutely correct. Yet, as usual, the Church’s teaching will be proven right, and we sinners who ignore such teaching will continue to be proven wrong.
“Archbishop Pell is first and foremost a priest, which means he was ordained to fight the works of Satan and save souls.”
It is undoubtedly more romantic to see Pell as a Prince of the Church battling Satan and his dark minions rather than a paternalistic and egotistical old pedagogue, attempting to nail his own rickety moral framework onto women who wish to have control over their own fertility. If the devil is a young woman, who after a great deal of soul searching, reluctantly decides to have an abortion, then I guess Pell *is* doing a hell of a job.
�J thinks himself to be much smarter than you or anyone who has any respect for embryonic life at all.�
To repeat myself from another comment, I see no evidence of similar respect for others who wish to make their own personal judgement when it comes to abortion. As for the notion that Pell wasn�t attempting to subvert the ability of women to control their own fertility in line with Catholic teachings � please let Jeff know because he was the one who posted this item to his blog on what seemed to be this very premise.
�What an a**hole!�
And you�re not exactly Thomas Aquinas when it comes to defending the faith against criticism are you Skippy.
��.. as usual, the Church’s teaching will be proven right, and we sinners who ignore such teaching will continue to be proven wrong.�
I await the proof with restless anticipation. Until then, I suggest that men like George Pell offer little in the way of spiritual guidance and even less in terms of compassion. He may be a Cardinal but he isn�t very Christian.
J, I challenge you to view the BODIES of aborted babies, and speak with women who regret their abortions (go to the website “Silent No More”). You will certainly receive a reality check, and realize that “pro-choice” is a misnomer because killing the innocent usually means control over a body to the point of killing it. That’s choice? I don’t think some women are going for abortions because they want to exercise their “freedom of choice.” The archbishop you seem to have a fit over has the same teaching authority as the Apostles, if you read the Bible, you will see that he is doing exactly what God expects of a leader of His CHURCH.
Also, you really don’t know how the Devil works to destroy souls. Try reading some theology before venturing into a theological matter you have never studied. Amateurs!