Pope At U.N. Speaks Against Science That He Says Violates 'Order Of Creation'

Main Category: Stem Cell Research
Also Included In: Women's Health / Gynecology;  Abortion
Article Date: 22 Apr 2008 - 6:00 PDT

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Pope Benedict XVI on Friday at the United Nations General Assembly spoke against technology and science that he said violates the "order of creation," which seemed to refer to stem cell research and cloning, Long Island Newsday reports (Schuster/Dowdy, Long Island Newsday, 4/19).

Benedict said, "Notwithstanding the enormous benefits humanity can gain [from technology and science], some instances of this represents a clear violation of the order of creation, to the point where not only is the sacred character of life contradicted, but the human person and the family are robbed of their natural identity." The use of science and technology should be limited to "rational" ways to "rediscover the authentic image of creation," Benedict said, adding, "This never requires a choice to be made between science and ethics. Rather, it is a question of adapting a scientific method that is truly respectful of ethical imperatives" (Boorstein/Lynch, Washington Post, 4/19).

President Bush on Friday at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast praised the U.S. response to the pope's visit to Washington, D.C., and New York City, the AP/Google.com reports. Bush said that during his administration, he and the Roman Catholic Church have worked together on efforts to support stem cell research that avoids use of human embryos, as well as efforts to bar U.S. funding of foreign groups that with their own money perform abortions, provide counseling or advocate for abortion rights (Simmons, AP/Google.com, 4/19).

In related news, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R), who supports abortion rights, received Holy Communion during a Mass celebrated Saturday by the pope at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City, Newsday reports. St. Louis Catholic Archbishop Raymond Burke in October 2007 suggested that he would refuse to give Giuliani, who was then a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, Communion because of Giuliani's support of abortion rights (Long Island Newsday, 4/20). During the Mass Saturday, Giuliani did not receive Communion directly from the pope, Reuters reports (Parsons, Reuters, 4/19).

CNN on Saturday reported on the influence of Catholics on the presidential election, including Catholic voters' opinions on abortion rights and stem cell research (Levs, CNN, 4/19).

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