http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/20/AR2007112001909.html?hpid=topnews
After reading the Wesley Smith article, I found this rather contradictory article. It is WaPo so it has to be taken with a grain of salt. It does throw a wet blanket on my enthusiasm that embryonic cells were used extensively in the development of this procedure.
It now sounds like the work on these cells will be done in parallel with embryonic cells, in order to confirm that the cells actually act the same as ESCs. I have a problem with that, as it is still destroying embryos, even if the actual procedure does not use them. I find it hard to believe that the Vatican was aware of this, before they had no moral or ethical objection.
I am wondering about your opinion.
There’s no way Vatican science advisors would OK research that kills embryos. Therefore I have to assume that they were commenting on the work done with reprogrammed cells themselves, and not parallel work done which destroys early-stage human beings.
Doerflinger is the most reliable man on the planet on this subject, IMHO. I used to work for him in 1986-87, and he’s that unusual combination, smart (really smart) and good (really good).