Joint Ethico-Medical Committee
of
The Catholic Union of
Great Britain
and the
Guild of Catholic Doctors
Press Release - Cloning
22 October 2000
The Catholic Union of Great Britain and the Guild of Catholic Doctors wish to support Archbishop Nichols' pastoral call for all Catholics to write to their MPs about the proposal to legalise cloning for ‘therapeutic’ purposes. The Joint Committee itself has written to MPs about this matter pointing out that:
- The claimed possible benefits from the use of cloned (foetal) stem cells are uncertain and may never be realised.
- That alternative sources of stem cells, which would have no ethical drawbacks, are available.
- That the work has not yet even been seriously attempted in other species.
- That to put the benefit to society before the rights of the individual human being is contrary to the Helsinki agreement.
- The European Parliament has passed four resolutions and two directives against human cloning, in all its aspects including research. Britain is out of step with its European partners on this issue.
- Doctors and patients with conscientious objection to therapies derived from embryonic tissue and cloning techniques will be unable to accept these treatments. It is imperative that advances in treatment are made in an ethically non-controversial way so that all of society may benefit from its findings.
The committee has offered to provide MPs with a fuller briefing paper if they so wish.