Vatican City, Feb 16, 2004 / 22:00 pm
Bishop Elio Sgrecia, Vice President of the Pontifical Academy for Life, established 10 years ago by Pope John Paul II, explained why human cloning is immoral and unacceptable in an interview with the Reuters News Service.
Responding to reports that South Korean scientists have successfully cloned a human embryo, Bishop Sgrecia said, “One cannot kill a human life with the hope of finding medicines to save other lives.” He said such an act would “repeat what the Nazis did in the concentration camps.”
“Scientists are saying, ‘first I will clone you, then I will kill you.’ This is not a victory for humanity, but a double crime,” the Bishop said.
Scientists believe that stem cells, which are able to transform themselves into any other type of cells, can lead to cures for illnesses such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, diabetes and spinal cord injuries.