Philadelphia cardinal praises proposed human-animal hybrid ban

Published: 2008-05-01

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Philadelphia Cardinal Justin Rigali, chairman of the U.S. bishops' Committee on Pro-Life Activities, praised legislation introduced in the House in late April that would ban the creation of human-animal embryos for research. The cardinal said he welcomed the ban as "an opportunity to rein in an egregious and disturbing misuse of technology to undermine human dignity." The Human-Animal Hybrid Prohibition Act was introduced in the House April 24 by Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J. Identical legislation was introduced in the Senate last fall by Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan. "I commend Sen. Brownback and Rep. Smith for their leadership in seeking to prohibit the creation of human-animal hybrids," said Cardinal Rigali in an April 30 statement. "While this subject may seem like science fiction to many, the threat is all too real," he added, noting that England is preparing to authorize the production of cloned human embryos using human DNA and animal eggs, setting the stage for the creation of embryos that are half-human and half-animal.

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