Pope Benedict XVI Blog

Cardinal Rigali explains Church position on stem cell research: adult, "yes"; embryonic, "no"

Philadelphia Inquirer

Posted on Sun, Jun. 19, 2005

For Catholics, dignity of life prohibits the use of embryos
There is no justification for destroying an embryo, even if the purpose is to potentially benefit the sick.

Cardinal Justin Rigali
is archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

Representatives of the biotechnology industry from throughout the world are seeing the Philadelphia region as a potential center for advanced research as they gather in our city this week for the international convention of the Biotechnology Industry Organization. This gathering presents an opportune time to examine an issue that will be discussed intensely by the attendees and considered carefully by us all: stem-cell research.

Let this be understood clearly: The Catholic Church supports adult-stem cell research and opposes embryonic stem-cell research. The church can never condone destroying the unborn to develop a potential benefit for the sick. The deliberate destruction of human life is contrary to God's loving plan for all his creatures.

The goal of stem-cell research is noble: to treat debilitating illnesses and injuries. Certain stem cells give rise to other types of cells in the body. For this reason, researchers wish to understand and perhaps develop this ability into treatment of a sick or injured person by creating new cells to replace damaged ones, leading to a person's recovery to full health.

The Catholic Church's rich heritage of ethical teaching in the medical-moral area and her duty to transmit moral guidance provide a framework for decision-making and the understanding of stem-cell research. The church encourages the development of human understanding in this area in a manner that respects the sanctity of human life at every stage.

To understand stem-cell research, it is first important to recognize that there is more than one source of stem cells: human embryos and living human adults.

Stem cells from embryos, whether produced in-vitro or through cloning, are extracted by a process that results in the destruction of the embryo.

In the case of cloning, whether one "uses" (as if it were one's right to use one person for the benefit of another) an embryo produced through reproductive cloning or so-called therapeutic cloning, the result is the same: An innocent life, recognized as human from the moment sperm fertilizes ovum at conception, is destroyed.

Adult stem-cell research, however, presents none of the ethical dilemmas as when human embryos are killed to obtain stem cells. Adult stem-cell research presents hope for eventual treatments and has already been developed into treatments for more than 90 medical conditions. Embryonic stem cell research, however, has produced none.

Sources of adult stem cells include bone marrow, umbilical cord, skin and other tissues. They present no risk of rejection because they are derived from one's own body. Tissues grown from embryonic stem cells, however, have a high possibility of being rejected by the body.

Biotechnology firms are pursuing research in this field, and the church encourages such research with one caution. All research must be undertaken within a moral framework that respects human dignity at every stage of development. I urge researchers, entrepreneurs in biotechnology, and civic officials to conduct their activities from a perspective that views the human person with an innate dignity that cannot be violated. Life must never be destroyed for any potential good, even cures for the sick and injured. The end does not justify the means.

People of good will - many of them Catholic - have and will continue to speak out against attempts to attack human life, no matter how noble the goal.

The attendees of the biotechnology convention and all those in our region should see the advantage of Philadelphia as a global leader in adult stem-cell research. They should recognize the proven success of research on adult stem cells at producing treatments for medical conditions and its non-violation of human life.

Scientific, business and political leaders can help Pennsylvania prosper and develop treatments that return people to good health by pursuing research that does not sacrifice human life. Adult stem-cell research holds that promise, which visitors attending the biotechnology convention in Philadelphia - and all of us - should consider.

posted by Dr. Denice Hanley, DPM, M.Div. @ 4:32 PM