News Release
November 26, 2001
STATEMENT OF ANTHONY CARDINAL BEVILACQUA
ARCHBISHOP OF PHILADELPHIA
STATEMENT REGARDING HUMAN EMBRYO CLONING
The recent announcement by a research firm that it has created the first human embryo by cloning is disturbing news for the people of our nation and our world. No matter what benefits are claimed by those who carried out this act, it is to be morally and unequivocally condemned. The Catholic Church encourages and supports the efforts of scientists to use technology and medical advances to ease human suffering and work towards the elimination of disease as long as those efforts are guided by ethical norms which protect the true dignity of the human person.
Cloning and the research which led to it does not respect the value of human life. Each human life from the moment of conception until natural death is sacred and worthy of protection by those engaged in medical research. The act of cloning a human embryo for the possible harvesting of cells for research or for any other reason is morally reprehensible. It reduces a human life to the sum value of cells. The potential exists for the use of stem cells from adults, umbilical cords and other morally acceptable methods.
I strongly urge the United States Senate to join the House of Representatives in protecting human life by passing a ban on human cloning. I commend President George W. Bush for his consistent condemnation of human cloning.
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Editor's Note: Cardinal Bevilacqua is the newly appointed Chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Pro-Life Activities.
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