Pope says biotechnology practices do not always respect human life

Published: 2004-02-20

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Despite the great promises new research and technology give for treating illnesses and helping infertile couples, the field of biotechnology is strewn with practices that do not respect human life, Pope John Paul II said. In a message to the Pontifical Academy for Life marking the 10th anniversary of its founding by the pope, he praised the physicians, researchers, theologians and ethicists who have helped the Catholic Church understand the new technology and the ethical challenges it raises. "While it gives us glimpses of promising developments for the good of humanity and for the cure of serious and distressing diseases, progress in the biomedical sciences not infrequently presents serious problems in relation to respect for human life and the dignity of the person," the pope said. The pope's message was read on the opening day of the academy's Feb. 19-22 meeting. Pope John Paul told academy members he was concerned by "the growing domination of medical technology over the process of human procreation, discoveries in the field of genetics and molecular biology (and) changes that have occurred in the treatment of critical patients."

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