Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
London (Agenzia Fides) - The Catholic Church in Great Britain expressed its disapproval of the House of Commons’ decision to approve the controversial government proposal allowing scientific research using “hybrid” embryos, the result of combining human and animal genetic codes. The British MPs approved the bill on Monday evening, which allows for the use of hybrid embryos made through the introduction of human DNA into animal eggs. These operations, according to the bill, should prove to be a means for medical advancement. The proposal to authorize hybrid embryos was accepted when the House of Commons rejected an amendment banning the creation of hybrid embryos in a 336 over 176 vote.
In addition to the question of hybrids, the MPs also voted in favor of the selection of embryos with certain specific genetic characteristics for creating “savior siblings,” from whose tissue stem cells could be extracted in order to cure older brothers and sisters of their genetic illnesses. On Tuesday, another two issues related to the same law were debated: the legalization of assisted fertility for lesbian couples, and an amendment that would reduce the time limit for abortion in the United Kingdom from 24 to 20 weeks.
The Catholic Church in Great Britain is had issued a statement a few days earlier, explaining the reasons why they oppose research using “hybrid” embryos, as it is “intrinsically immoral and violates the human rights of the unborn and can give way to monstrous aberrations.”
The President for the Pontifical Academy for Life, Bishop Elio Sgreccia, in an interview with Vatican Radio, showed his concern upon receiving the news of this British Parliamentary decision. The proposal, the prelate says, is especially serious from an ethical point of view, as “first of all, the union of the human nucleus and the animal egg takes place through a cloning of the human nucleus. The union seeks fertilization using the masculine element, in the nucleus, and the feminine element, the egg; one from a man, the other from an animal.” This procedure, “is an offense to human dignity. It is an intent for fertility among species that until now had been banned by all governments as artificial fertilization.”
Furthermore, Bishop Sgreccia says, “every time the man-animal barrier has been broken, there have been serious consequences, even involuntarily.” According to the approved law, hybrid embryos must be destroyed at within 14 days’ development and it is prohibited to implant them in the uterus of a woman. This means, the prelate said, that according to this law, the embryos with less than 15 days’ time “are not worth anything, something which is false from a scientific point of view.” And if it were decided to let them advance and live, “it could give way to monstrosities, or cause infections, as the passing of human DNA to animal DNA has unknown effects.” Furthermore, the fact that “from these cells could emerge medicines for the cure of illnesses such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s, is a hypothesis that is still unfounded. Moreover, it is known that there have been even more favorable scientific tests performed with adult stem-cells.” (RG) (Agenzia Fides 21/05/2008 righe 41, parole 516)
