Is this really true?
Here are some comments re: the article
The headline is misleading. The RCC still opposes *creating* these embryos - very strongly. But it has announced that if these embryos are created dispite its objections, then its anti-abortion views are still in effect, and the embryo should be carried to term rather than be discarded as medical waste.
Its still a rediculous policy - those experimental embryos will probably have all sorts of strange new diseases - but at least its consistant with their past positions. Its also going to be completly ignored, because creating a genetically-modified baby is a legal minefield that no research organisation is going to go anywhere near. Perhaps that is their intention.
Hmm... 99.9% human and 0.1% animal? What happens if you reverse the procedure, I
wonder? It would be interesting to see what the church does when presented with a rat containing a slight trace of human cells.
Suricou Raven, London, London
The catholic viewpoint is that these embryos are in effect human beings. The animal input is actually minimal, and if I understand the science correctly the animal input to the genes is almost none. However, the best way of dealing with this would be to make it illegal to create such animals.
Maurice, Cardiff, Wales
Just because you have a few animal genes does not mean you are not human. The Church is trying to protect human beings who are produced in this way.
Obviously, the Church does not favor producing human-animal hybrids; but once produced, they cannot be treated like medical waste or as objects of experimentation.
EJF, Philadelphila, USA
new proof that the catholic church is absolutely barmy! no abortion because the embryo has rights but sure, stick it full of animal genes and then thats fine. even aside from that the weirdness of carrying a human/animal mix to term! I shake my head in puzzlement....
Clio, dublin, ireland
