Bishops call for stem-cell rethink

Date: 27/11/03

EUROPE's Catholic bishops are urging member states to overturn a decision by the European Parliament to allow EU funding for research on embryonic stem cells.

The Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Community (Comece) said it was "deeply concerned" at last week's vote by MEPs in favour of lifting the current ban imposed by some states.

Noel Treanor, secretary-general of Comece, said: "Human life begins at conception and must not be violated, whatever the hoped-for benefits. We, therefore, are urging the Council of Ministers not to approve the use of EU funds for such research."

Stem-cell research supporters say it could help find cures for diseases such as diabetes and Parkinson's.

• A 400,000-name petition gathered by civil society groups which calls for an "explicit" recognition of Europe's Christian heritage in the new treaty has been submitted to the intergovernmental conference.

http://www.comece.org/comece.taf?_function=newonwebsite&_sub=&id=&language=en http://www.comece.org/comece.taf?_function=newonwebsite&_sub=&id=&language=en

http://www.comece.org/comece.taf?_function=news_archive&_sub=&id=1&language=en http://www.comece.org/comece.taf?_function=news_archive&_sub=&id=1&language=en

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