Bioethics
Scientific breakthroughs often create new bioethical challenges. As seminarians and priests, we need to be aware of these challenges and respond appropriately. The following resources will help.
Article: Protecting Freedom of
Conscience in Health Care
By Archbishop Charles Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.
Source: Archbishop’s Web Site
October 23, 2002 (accessed 9 December, 2002)
The Archbishop addresses
protecting Catholic health care facilities from laws requiring that
abortion
services be provided. Available at:
http://www.archden.org/archbishop/docs/10_23_02_anda.htm
Document Title:
Evangelium Vitae: On the Value and Inviolability of Human Life (1995)
By Pope John Paul II
Source: United States
Conference of Catholic Bishops (online)
From 1995; (Accessed 9
December, 2002)
Encyclical Letter Addressed by the Roman Pontiff John
Paul II to the Bishops, Priests and Deacons, Men and Women Religious, Lay
Faithful, and All People of Good Will. Available at:
http://www.usccb.org/prolife/tdocs/evangel/evangeli.htm
Document Title: Donum
Vitae (Instruction on Respect For Human Life In Its
Origin
and on the Dignity of Procreation. Replies
to Certain Questions of the Day)
Issued by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
Source: American Bioethics Advisory Commission (online),
A division of American Life League, Inc.
February 22, 1987. (accessed 8 December, 2002)
Document at:
http://www.all.org/abac/clon-vat.htm
Bioethics and Reproductive Technologies
Source: United States
Conference of Catholic Bishops (online)
November 11, 2002 (Accessed 9 December, 2002)
A collection of articles from the Secretariat for Pro-Life
Activities, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Articles at:
http://www.usccb.org/prolife/issues/bioethic/index.htm
More to Come!
Article Title:
Personhood: Testimony before the
Nebraska legislature regarding stem cell
research recommendations
By Fr. Joseph C. Howard, Jr., M. Div. Director of the
American Bioethics Advisory Commission
Source: American Bioethics Advisory Commission (online), a division American
Life League
January 19, 2001; (Accessed 8 December, 2002).
The late 1970's marked the beginning of a scientific revolution in biomedical technology which now makes it possible to answer the most profound questions concerning the beginning of human life. Studies involving ultrasonography, electronic fetal heart monitoring, amniocentesis, chorionic villi sampling, radioimmunochemistry, fetoscopy, and contact embryoscopy all lead to one and only one valid scientific conclusion: human life begins at the moment of fertilization. Full story at: http://www.all.org/abac/jch007.htm
Article Title:
Declaration on the Production and the Scientific and Therapeutic Use of Human
Embryonic Stem Cells
Author: Pontifical Academy For Life
Source: Vatican Web Site
August 25, 2000; Accessed 8
October, 2002
This document seeks to
contribute to the debate on the production and use of embryonic stem cells which
is now taking place in scientific and ethical literature and in public opinion.
Given the growing relevance of the debate on the limits and liceity of the
production and use of such cells, there is a pressing need to reflect on the
ethical implications which are present.
Full Document at:
http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_academies/acdlife/documents/
rc_pa_acdlife_doc_20000824_cellule-staminali_en.html
Title: Cloning: When
word games kill
By Dianne N. Irving, M.A., Ph.D.
Source: American Bioethics Advisory Commission (online),
A division of American Life League, Inc.
1999; (Accessed 8 December, 2002)
Oddly, little public focus has been given to three central issues underlying the cloning debates: First, the scientific question, i.e., the exact physical nature and scientific status of the immediate product of cloning; second, the related philosophical question of "personhood", and the ethical grounds for regulating cloning research; and third, the legal question concerning possible bans on cloning. Full Story at: http://www.all.org/abac/dni001.htm
Article Title: Genetic
Engineering, excerpt on cloning
By Jerome Lejeune
Source: American Bioethics Advisory Commission (online),
A division of American Life League, Inc.
(Accessed 8 December, 2002)
A decade ago, the eminent geneticist Jerome Lejeune spoke about genetic engineering, including cloning. The following is an excerpt from his talk on genetic engineering. Full story at: http://www.all.org/abac/lejeune.htm
Article Title:
Cloning
of Human Beings; Testimony presented to the National Bioethics Advisory
Commission
By Leon R. Kass, M.D., Ph.D., The University of Chicago
Source: American Bioethics Advisory Commission (online),
A division of American Life League, Inc.
March 14, 1997, Washington,
DC.; (accessed 8 October, 2002).
Human cloning, though in some respects continuous with previous reproductive technologies, also represents something radically new, both in itself and in its easily foreseeable consequences. The stakes here are very high indeed. Let me exaggerate, but in the direction of the truth: You have been asked to give advice on nothing less than whether human procreation is going to remain human, whether children are going to be made rather than begotten, and whether it is a good thing, humanly speaking, to say yes to the road which leads (at best) to the dehumanized rationality of Brave New World. Full article at: http://www.all.org/abac/clon-sec.htm
The principal manifestations of eugenics are racism and abortion; eugenics is the basis for "scientific racism" and laid the foundation for legalizing abortion. It is the driving force behind euthanasia, in vitro fertilization, and embryo and fetal research. It is the driving force in global population policy, which is a key element in American foreign policy. It is the force driving much of the environmentalist movement, welfare policy, welfare reform, and health care. Full Article at: http://www.all.org/abac/eugen02.htm