Moral theologian laments cloning’s ‘giant step forward’
October 11, 2011
E. Christian Brugger, a moral theologian who teaches at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver, analyzes--and decries--the recent announcement that a cloned human embryo has been exploited to create working stem cells.
“Three big ethical problems surround this research,” writes Brugger. “The first, of course, is that it cloned human embryos for the mercenary purpose of harvesting their stem cells. Second, the embryos were profoundly disabled by the intent of the researchers who made them. And third, the research team paid female donors to super-ovulate using powerful and potentially dangerous drugs for a project with unproven benefits. The research team had to use 270 eggs from 16 different donors to secure its results.”
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Further information:
- Cloning Takes a Giant Step Forward (Zenit)
- Cloned human embryo makes working stem cells (Nature)
- Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith: Dignitas Personae (2008)
- Cloning: An Affront to Human Dignity (CUF)
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