Posted on 12/12/2008 6:09:21 AM PST by NYer
THE Vatican today said life was sacred at every stage of its existence and condemned artificial fertilisation, embryonic stem-cell research, human cloning and drugs which block pregnancy from taking hold.
A long-awaited document on bioethics by the Vatican's doctrinal body also said the so-called "morning after pill" and the drug RU-486, which blocks the action of hormones needed to keep a fertilised egg implanted in the uterus, fall "within the sin of abortion" and are gravely immoral.
"Dignitas Personae" (dignity of a person), an Instruction of Certain Bioethical Questions," is an attempt to bring the Church up to date with recent advances in science and medicine.
It said human life deserved respect "from the very first stages of its existence (and) can never be reduced merely to a group of cells."
"The human embryo has, therefore, from the very beginning, the dignity proper to a person," the docment by the Congregations of the Doctrine of the Faith said.
It said most forms of artifical fertilisation "are to be excluded" because "they substitute for the conjugal act ... which alone is truly worthy of responsible procreation".
It condemned in-vitro fertilisation, saying the techniques "proceed as if the human embryo were simply a mass of cells to be used, selected and discarded."
The highly technical document said only adult stem cell research was moral because embryonic stem cell research involved the destruction of embryos.
In the document, the Vatican also defended its right to intervene on such matters.
(Excerpt) Read more at theaustralian.news.com.au ...
Catholics are not fundamentalists. (They believe that every word of the Bible is literally true. )
In addition, there are many who convert to Christianity without believing that.
Nope. Just think it’s funny that the church hierarchy (btw all male) seems preoccupied with sexuality, fertility and contraception - when they’re not out crusading for illegal immigrants.
:)
I think we get it.
Glad to see your quality of discussion improve! I hope it isn't a temporary phase.
As for the question, I don't know specifically... has their promiscuity dropped? Or do we have birth control, and an imposing culture that tends to encourage childlessness, and demonise motherhood, to blame? Birth control by hormonal contraceptives, might be another angle.
Strangely, European women who marry Indians seem to have many children. This based on about five couples that I personally know.
If one is required to make individual decisions on whether something in a book is conveniently literally true or not, then the book is most likely man-made.
# for my previous post, ‘make’ also refers to the contents of the book.
Adding this before some child comes around to use this against me.
>>As for the question, I don’t know specifically... has their promiscuity dropped? Or do we have birth control, and an imposing culture that tends to encourage childlessness, and demonise motherhood, to blame? Birth control by hormonal contraceptives, might be another angle. <<
Maybe because the “instinct” to reproduce is a myth?
Now I have to educate my own eight year old....bye.
Well, I might as well be the one who says it, since you brought it up.
There's a lot of discussion/scandal (and not just in the Catholic theological realm) that 'brain death' is a very flimsy scientific concept. There is talk among religious scholars and bioethicists about trying to define things more carefully so that innocent people are not 'assisted into death' earlier than they should be.
No, you haven't heard about it yet, but the talks have started. Perhaps in the next year or two the press will discover it.
FWIW, there are many secular people who have concerns about being donors. Currently, I am listed as an organ donor. If the Church comes out against it with sound arguments, I will change that designation. And yes, I will also not accept an organ from a 'brain dead' donor at that time as well.
It's not.
IVF is not a painless procedure.
And the Vatican is merely entering into the discussion from a moral perspective. And this does matter to Catholics who follow the teachings of the Church.
No one is saying 'ban it'.
>>It’s not. <<
Prove it.
Knock off the personal attacks!
Prove it.
Fertility clinics are available almost everywhere. Overall, human population is still increasing. Freud.
The movie Blue Lagoon perhaps? Not the most scientific, but a good example of mating instincts in humans.
>>Wow, that was quick, educating your 8-year old! (Heh heh, I’m picking up your style!)<<
She had a question, I answered it.
>>Prove it.
Fertility clinics are available almost everywhere. Overall, human population is still increasing.<<
Not in Europe. And I need a reference link. Thanks.
>>The movie Blue Lagoon perhaps? Not the most scientific, but a good example of mating instincts in humans.<<
Thanks. I’m not really inclined to base real life on a bad Hollywood movie.
I think Europe (unlike us) doesn’t have an “Abstinence Only” sex education plan, therefore allowing teenagers and responsible adults alike to use birth control and most importantly be informed on how to use it. Obviously many variables are involved in Europe’s population decline, for example is it a movement away from an Agrarian society, or the economic indicator of raising a family? Birth Control availability I would say if I were to guess would be my choice for the biggest culprit.
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