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Gay Humanist charity supports Embryology Bill and slams Catholic church
Submitted by admin on 30 March, 2008 - 07:14
The gay Humanist charity the Pink Triangle Trust has added its voice to those of the hundreds of charities that are supporting the government’s Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill. It also endorses the eminent scientist and fertility expert Professor Lord (Robert) Winston’s description of the Catholic Church’s statement on this as “lying” and “misleading”.
The PTT’s secretary George Broadhead said: “Highly reputable organisations like the Medical Research Council and the Welcome Trust have said that this research has massive potential to provide treatments for serious debilitating disorders ranging from developmental abnormalities in young children, to stroke, cancer, HIV/AIDS, diabetes and Parkinson’s disease, as well as better and safer treatment for infertile couples. Yet the Roman Catholic Church vehemently opposes it. What is it about this Church that it seems to oppose automatically advances in biological science that can promote human happiness and welfare?
“When you consider the enormous difference that contraception has made to the lives of women previously weighed down by multiple births and sexual diseases and the availability of abortion that gives women control over their lives,” said Mr Broadhead, “it is monstrous that these life-enhancing measures are opposed in a civilised society.”
He added: “We warmly welcome that part of the Bill that will enable homosexual couples who conceive through donated sperm, eggs or embryos to register as parents on a birth certificate and two-mother families to be recognised."
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Catholic Church on Embryology
TimDaro's reply to the Gay Humanists is pathetic, yet interesting in a way. Human embryonic stem cell research has yielded considerable new insights in the molecular events of early embryogenesis, as well as the mechanisms of cell line commitment. Adult stem cells have also led to important knowledge about specific cell lineages, and in addition yielded proven therapies. Understandably so, since the adult stem cell field enjoyed a thirty year headstart over human embryonic stem cell research. These two fields of biomedical research are actually developing synergistically and offer high hopes both in terms of basic knowledge and of innovative therapies.
This is what any competent and unprejudiced observer would conclude today, after doing one's homework of course...
What does TimDaro have to say to this? Let us quote him:
"Embryonic stem cell research has yielded nothing of value": WRONG!
"and it's indeed counter to the life teaching of the Church, as is abortion and contraception": CORRECT!
So it is because he subscribes to the Catholic prohibitions as regards embryos and birth control that TimDaro is blinded to any successes that human embryo stem cell research have had. In his worldview, such successes are simply not permitted to occur: they are off the radar screen.
Interestingly, you will never hear traditional Catholics discuss human embryo research as follows: "Unfortunately, godless liberal scientists have transgressed God's and Nature's sacred laws in experimenting on human embryos. We regret to say that they were quite successful (possibly with Satan's helping hand) and therapeutic breakthroughs are forthcoming. But true followers of the Saviour Christ will not be led astray. They will bravely forsake any of these devilish medicines and rather face painful disease and death, fully cognizant that they will be richly rewarded in spending eternity in the loving sight of God Almighty".
That kind of discourse would be brave. Stupid, yes, but brave.
Present day religious fanatics no longer need moral fortitude. They have erected such solid walls of ignorance around their belief system that they no longer need to face the concrete consequences of these beliefs. For religious fanatics, wishful thinking is now the name of the game.
j-meslier
"The slumber of reason begets monsters" F. Goya
Catholic Church on Embryology
Mr. Broadhead is sadly mistaken.
Embryonic stem cell research has yielded nothing of value and it's indeed counter to the life teaching of the Church, as is abortion and contraception, which he also mischaracterizes as actually having any value to women.
Meanwhile, adult stem cell research is yielding substantial benefit already.
Do your homework, sir, and do not condemn that which you simply do not understand.
The sacred nature of human life is not a subject for compromise.
And, conception of human life outside the natural sex act of a married man and woman is also flawed in both moral and ethical realms. That's another letter. Homosexual parenting is an oxymoron.
Tim Daro