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U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops: Direct attacks on innocent human life are always gravely wrong
By Mailee Smith | June 16, 2008
In its first statement devoted exclusively to the issue of embryonic stem cell research, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) last week firmly stated the following:
It now seems undeniable that once we cross the fundamental moral line that prevents us from treating any fellow human being as a mere object of research, there is no stopping point. The only moral stance that affirms the human dignity of all of us is to reject that first step down this path.
The USCCB urges all Catholics—and others of good will—to join them in reaffirming that “the killing of innocent human creatures, even if carried out to help others, constitutes an absolutely unacceptable act.”
The statement—overwhelmingly approved by at vote of 191 to 1—is the first of two documents to be released by the USCCB. The second document will be addressed to engaged and married couples in the Catholic Church, educating them on reproductive technologies and the link to embryonic stem cell research.
Stating that while the Catholic church “appreciates and encourages the progress of the biomedical sciences which open up unprecedented therapeutic prospects” (quoting Pope Benedict XVI), the USCCB focuses on the fact that embryonic stem cell research sacrifices innocent human life—stating that “[d]irect attacks on innocent human life are always gravely wrong.”
The USCCB explains that justifications set forth for embryonic stem cell research are founded on utilitarian principles that will eventually harm the dignity and autonomy of the very patients it is currently supposed to “help.” For example, if we use embryos simply because the embryos are going to “die anyway”—where do we draw the line? Patients with terminal illnesses and criminals on death row will “die anyway”—but that does not give scientists the ability to kill them for medical research. As the USCCB states, “[t]he very same ethic that justifies taking some lives to help the patients with Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease today can be used to sacrifice that very patient tomorrow, if his or her survival is viewed as disadvantaging or other human beings considered more deserving or productive.”
This logic is not as strained as researchers would like us to think. Just this week it was reported that in Oregon, the state’s health services will pay for patients’ lethal drugs for assisted suicide, but not for further treatments.
Similarly, if an embryo is not afforded human rights simply because it is too weak or undeveloped to possess such rights—where does that leave patients whose diseases have progressed to a degree that the patients lack all autonomy? “If fundamental human rights such as the right to life are based on abilities or qualities that can appear or disappear, grow or diminish, and be greater or lesser in different human beings, then there are no inherent human rights, no true human equality, only privileges for the strong.”
The USCCB statement also explains that human cloning is argued as essential for the progress of embryonic stem cell research. This leads to the creation of life for the purpose of destroying life. It also leads to the deplorable practice of using women for their eggs—in complete disregard for the health of women.
And thus, the USCCB’s conclusion stated above: once we cross the line, there is no stopping point.
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Topics: Assisted Suicide, Bioethics, End of Life, Reproductive Technologies, Stem Cell Research |
June 17th, 2008 at 7:24 am
[...] 13 juin, la Conférence des évêques catholiques des États-Unis a publié un document très important, une condamnation très ferme - et adoptée à 191 voix contre une - de l’utilisation des [...]