wfn.org | Australian Anglican Bishops support stem cell research

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

ACNS 2915 - AUSTRALIA - 20 March 2002

Anglican Bishops in New South Wales support stem cell research - but not at
the cost of human life

[Anglican Media Sydney] The Most Reverend Dr Peter Jensen, Archbishop of
Sydney, is joined by other Anglican Bishops of NSW in supporting the Roman
Catholic Bishops who have called for the Federal Government to support stem
cell research which does not destroy human embryos.

The bishops of Bathurst, Grafton, Armidale, Newcastle and also the five
Sydney regional Bishops and the assistant Bishop of Newcastle have agreed to
the issuing of this statement with Archbishop Jensen.

"The Bible gives us a mandate to act as caretakers of creation," Archbishop
Jensen said. "We should give every support and encouragement to medical
research which seeks to find ways to reduce suffering in this world caused
by the many debilitating illnesses in our society today."

However, the Archbishop says that in the case of embryonic stem cell
research, the end does not justify the means.

"We are against the destruction of embryonic life in order to extract stem
cells," Archbishop Jensen said. "Particularly when there are perfectly
ethical means of extracting the necessary cells from umbilical cord blood in
newborns, and from the brain and bone marrow in adults.

"The cost of human life in embryonic stem cell research can never be
justified. There is no certainty that the sacrifice of embryos will lead to
the cures for which we long, of diseases that debilitate the lives of many
people. Scientists, in promoting their research, must be careful not to give
exaggerated grounds for hope to those who are suffering. The method we use
to achieve results needs to be considered as well as the final results
themselves."

The Bishops support calls for uniform laws across all the States in order to
provide accountability for researchers and also to protect the most
vulnerable in society.

"The Bible says that people are formed by God in their mother's womb. This
is why we deeply respect pregnant women and the children they carry.
Protecting embryos, and even stem cells, simply reflects this deep respect."

"We want to see illnesses healed - but not in a society that allows people
to consume others to heal themselves. Destroying embryonic life to heal
ourselves builds such a society, where the vulnerable are commodities to be
used up by the powerful.

"But when a mother and baby 'donate' spare stem cells from the umbilical
cord, or adults donate their own cells, embryonic life is not destroyed, and
we build a society where healing is founded on giving, and where each person
is precious.

"Scientists might have to work harder for this result. But their great skill
and intelligence should see them along the way. This path will guard their
integrity. Scientists can help build a society based on giving to others,
rather than upon consuming others."

"We are perturbed by recent news reports about companies planning to produce
cloned human embryos for research. This amounts to the commodification of
human life," the Bishops said.

The Bishops recognise that there are some sensitivities about the use of the
umbilical cord for the Aboriginal community.

Archbishop Jensen is the Chairman of the Sydney Diocesan Social Issues
Executive, which is currently conducting research into bioethical issues.

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