Korean cardinal-designate defends life, works to reunite peninsula

Published: 2006-03-09

SEOUL, South Korea (CNS) -- Korean Cardinal-designate Nicholas Cheong Jin-suk of Seoul is known for defending life, evangelizing North Koreans and efforts to reunite the families of the Korean peninsula. The cardinal-designate affirmed his role as the defender of Catholic teaching on bioethics when he met with controversial Dr. Hwang Woo-suk last June to discuss embryonic stem-cell research and the use of cloned stem cells. The doctor later was discredited for using fake research and phony data. That same year, Cardinal-designate Cheong's archdiocese created the Life Committee to encourage research and development about serious bioethical issues such as stem-cell research. According to UCA News, an Asian church news agency based in Thailand, the committee said it plans to raise $10 billion for the study of adult stem cells, rather than embryonic stem cells, which often come from aborted fetuses. Cardinal-designate Cheong will be among 15 new cardinals Pope Benedict XVI will elevate March 24 at the Vatican.

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