Washington D.C., Aug 19, 2004 / 22:00 pm
In an effort to provide more information on the Catholic Church's position on stem-cell research and human cloning, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is publishing a one-page flyer in a clear, easy-to-read question-and-answer format.
The flyer is entitled "Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning: Questions and Answers" and is intended for distribution in parishes and Catholic organizations across the country. It will also be available on the USCCB Web site.
"Stem-cell research has become a highly visible issue," says William Cardinal Keeler, chairman of the Committee for Pro-Life Activities, "but some public statements have spread more heat than light. Many people fail to distinguish between different kinds of stem-cell research, and that obscures the moral issue at stake. Through this resource, we hope Catholics can arrive at a more informed perspective on one of the fundamental moral issues of the 21st century."
According to stem-cell expert Fr. Tadeusz Pacholczyk, director of education at the National Catholic Bioethics Center: "To have an informed debate, people need to be aware of what the real parameters of the discussion are."