Reproductive technology hearings need Catholic voice

By DEBORAH GYAPONG
Canadian Catholic News
Ottawa

Canadian Catholic bishops are warning of demands for new legislation with less protection for the human embryo, more than a year after the Human Assisted Reproduction Act was proclaimed law in March 2004.

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops' (CCCB) permanent council is also encouraging Catholics to participate in consultations concerning the implementation of the existing act.

"Catholic groups and individual Catholic citizens should urge legislators to promote greater respect for life and to offer better protection for all stages of human life, including the embryo, as well as adequate safeguards to protect researchers and technicians who object to research that results in the destruction of the human embryo," said a Nov. 25 statement issued by the permanent council.

While the Act does not allow human embryos to be created strictly for research, it does allow research on embryos remaining after fertility treatments.

Other drawbacks of the act, according to the council, are the fact that it does not prevent the destruction of human embryos, or protect the conscience rights of researchers and health professionals who might be asked to participate.

The full statement is available at www.cccb.ca under public statements.

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