March 21, 2008

scientists condemn Catholic Church’s attack on embryo research

The Science Media Centre asked leading scientists to comment as Cardinal Keith O’Brien condemned plans for the creation of hybrid human-animal embryos as ‘monstrous’.

Dr Stephen Minger, Director, Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, King’s College London, said:

“This is yet another example where it is clear that the Catholic Church is misrepresenting science because it doesn’t understand the basic facts. As both the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority and the House of Common Select Committee on Science and Technology have concluded, such an embryo is categorically human. The Church should carefully review the science they are commenting on, and ensure that their official comments are accurate, before seriously misinforming their congregations.

“It is absolutely not the case that there is widespread public opposition to this this area of stem cell research. We as scientists have debated this matter with the public and policy makers for over a year now and the HFEA’s consultation showed that those people who have understood the science correctly and can see the medical benefits are overwhelmingly in favour of allowing us to do the research.”

Professor Robin Lovell-Badge, Head of the Genetics Division at the Medical research Council’s National Institute for Medical Research, said:

“Science progresses by refuting falsehood. The Bishops of the Roman Catholic Church apparently want to promote it. The proposals within the Embryo Bill that the Bishops object to are to permit research with very sincere and honourable aims, which are to provide understanding of normal processes in life and to develop cures for the debilitating diseases and conditions that occur when these go wrong. Each of these aims informing the other. We are not seeking to make monsters as the Bishops proclaim. The proposals do not even open new ground; scientists have been mixing human and animal cells and genetic material in the lab for many years, and much important science and progress in medicine depends on this. Why do the Bishops not recognise this and inform their congregation? Is it because they know that ignorance breeds fear, and this is what they wish to propagate? All the research proposed will be tightly regulated, and conducted under strict rules that prevent, for example, development of any “human admixed embryo” beyond 14 days and certainly prevents its implantation into the womb of a woman or an animal. How can a little ball of cells violate human dignity or scare anyone, especially when its purpose is to do good?

“If the research is successful in its aims, then it will help improve quality of life and give back dignity to those who suffer.”

Professor Chris Shaw, Professor of Neurology and Neurogenetics, Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, said:

“The Catholic Bishops are using scaremongering tactics in an attempt to block important medical research aimed at understanding and developing treatments for incurable diseases. Surveys of public opinion show that a significant majority support human embryonic stem cell research, even if it uses animal eggs to re-programme adult skin cells. These studies will be tightly regulated and only permitted if their purpose is to benefit humankind.”

Dr Lyle Armstrong, Newcastle University, said:

“We are very disturbed that Catholic bishops claim that the bill will allow us to create ‘half human-half animal embryos’ since this is a gross and irresponsible misrepresentation of our position and our intentions in carrying out our work. The aim of our experiments is to discover ways to make stem cells for anyone that will be invaluable in treating human diseases not to give birth to some abnormal chimaera. Even if this were possible, it has no scientific or moral justification and is in any case strictly prohibited by the legislation upon which the bishops have felt the need to pass comment. “We find it both surprising and saddening that the Catholic Church, an organisation with many scientific and media aware personnel within its ranks should resort to such blatant inaccuracy to support its message in these matters.”