Pell calls for stem cell research ban

George Cardinal Pell

Function: Archbishop of Sydney, Australia

Title: Cardinal Priest of St. Mary Dominic Mazzarello

Birthdate: Jun 08, 1941	Country: Australia

Elevated: Oct 21, 2003	More information: www.catholic-hierarchy.org

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Pell calls for stem cell research ban
Sept 23, 2005
Catholic Archbishop George Pell is pushing to wind back stem cell research laws, warning the destruction of embryos for science has created "a class of human life which is statutorily expendable".

(The Age, September 21, 2005) In his submission to a Government inquiry into laws covering cloning and the use of embryos for research, Australia's most senior Catholic leader said the scientific justification for using embryos had diminished since the laws were passed in 2002.

But scientists are pushing for laws to be extended to allow somatic cell nuclear transfer or "therapeutic cloning", in which embryos are created specifically for their stem cells and then destroyed when they are a few days old.

Stem cells, which can grow into different types of tissue, offer hope for treating a range of diseases from Parkinson's to diabetes.

Under the existing laws, scientists can use embryos left over from IVF treatment — which would be destroyed anyway — for research, including the creation of embryonic stem cell lines.
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The National Health and Medical Research Council has granted licences allowing research on 1731 spare IVF embryos since the 2002 laws were passed.

A panel headed by former Federal Court Judge John Lockhart, QC, is now reviewing the laws and will recommend to state and federal governments whether changes are needed.

Cardinal Pell, who will today address the National Press Club in Canberra, called for a ban on all research that involves destroying embryos or, at least, no extension to the laws.

He said access to spare IVF embryos for the past two years had not "led to a significant advance in knowledge".

All sides agree the current ban on reproductive cloning should stay. But scientists say "therapeutic cloning" would let them create personalised stem cell lines that are genetically compatible and would not be rejected by the immune system.

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