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Holy See's Call for a Ban on All Human Cloning
H.E. ARCHBISHOP CELESTINO MIGLIORE
Here is the text of the Holy See's speech delivered at a U.N. session on human cloning. Archbishop Celestino Migliore, permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, gave the speech.
H.E. Archbishop Celestino Migliore,
Apostolic Nuncio, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the U.N. on
Agenda Item 158:
International Convention against the Reproductive Cloning of Human
Beings
Mr. Chairman,
On behalf of my Delegation, allow me to congratulate you and other
members of the Bureau on your election. We stand ready to cooperate with
you and all other delegations in deliberating and deciding upon this
important issue regarding human cloning.
The item on human cloning has been on our agenda for over two years now.
Its multifaceted impact on the very life of all humanity as well as on
convictions rooted in different cultures requires a common set of clear
benchmarks that expeditiously address all of the issues concerning human
cloning. In order to contribute to the debate in a constructive manner,
my delegation has presented its views in a position paper that offers
some parameters within which the debate could possibly unfold. The
position paper has been circulated by this Working Group under document
symbol, A/C.6/WG/CRP.1, which is now before you.
While virtually all delegations stand in opposition to reproductive
cloning, there is a diversity of views on the so-called "therapeutic"
cloning; however, we must understand as clearly as we can that the
distinction between the two is superficial.
Mr. Chairman,
We do need to support the advancement of human biological sciences to
the benefit of all members of the human family. To this end, the Holy
See supports the procurement of human "adult" stem cells as well as the
use, for research or experimental purposes, of the "adult" stem cells,
and of material derived from them, when it is pursued in a way that does
not offend human dignity and, if applied clinically, respects the
principle of informed consent. Procuring, investigating and developing
potential therapies with "adult" stem cells, as far as is known, is a
scientific course that holds great promise.
On the other end of the spectrum, the cloning of human embryos to
produce stem cells for potential therapeutic use has not only failed to
demonstrate any verifiable scientific promise, it also raises serious
ethical questions. The experimental or research cloning of embryonic
stem cells requires the production of millions of human embryos with the
intention of destroying them as part of the process of using them for
scientific research. The early human embryo, not yet implanted into a
womb, is nonetheless a human individual, with a human life, and evolving
as an autonomous organism toward its full development. Destroying this
embryo results in a deliberate suppression of an innocent human life.
Mr. Chairman,
My delegation is of the view that any possible attempt to limit a ban on
human cloning to that undertaken for reproductive purposes would be
nearly impossible to enforce simply because human embryos cloned for
research purposes would be widely available and would have the potential
to be brought to birth. Since human reproductive cloning is universally
condemned, only a complete ban on all forms of human embryonic cloning
would achieve the goal of prohibiting human reproductive cloning.
There are other grave ethical problems which are of concern to my
delegation. In the first place, if "research" cloning with embryos were
permitted, it would require, to be effective, a large number of human
eggs or oocytes. The process of obtaining these eggs, which is not
without risk, would use women's bodies as mere reservoirs of oocytes,
instrumentalizing women and undermining their dignity. In the second
place, the massive demand for human oocytes would disproportionately
affect the poor and marginalized women of the world bringing a new type
of injustice, victimization and discrimination into existence.
Furthermore, a partial ban on "reproductive" cloning would only
encourage the development of commerce in cloned human embryos and their
derivatives for scientific research or for industrial research and
related development purposes.
Mr. Chairman,
These points lead to one logical conclusion: only a comprehensive
convention on human cloning, that would address all these issues and not
just reproductive cloning, will be able to respond to the challenges of
the twenty-first century on this issue. Situations that pose grave
dangers to human dignity can only be effectively addressed by
international agreements that are comprehensive, not partial. While a
partial agreement might address immediately some issues related to human
cloning, it could generate more problems. The most durable solution
should therefore be an all-inclusive legal instrument. In fact,
comprehensive conventions are not at all new to this Organization and
lately they would even seem to be the preferred legal instrument.
Moreover, an all-inclusive convention could provide a legal instrument
that would sufficiently enable States to formulate appropriate domestic
legislation on human cloning. For all these reasons, my delegation
wishes to reiterate its fundamental position that only a comprehensive
convention will be able to address all issues related to human cloning.
Mr. Chairman,
As we debate this important issue, let us remain positive in our outlook
and constructive in our objective. In this spirit, my delegation shares
the view of many others that the procurement and use of human "adult"
stem cells, is a moral and sound way to help all, not just some, human
beings. With the passage of each day, their great scientific promise
increases. Do we really want to render an effective and timely service
to many of our fellow human beings suffering from incurable diseases? I
am sure we all do. Let's give a powerful signal in that direction.
In this context, let me recall here an old and wise principle of
conduct. When, in an effort to advance human science or to help human
beings in need, one faces a choice between an unobjectionable means,
such as "adult" stem cells, and a means that is universally recognized
as raising profound ethical questions, such as "research" cloning,
prudence dictates choosing only the unobjectionable means.
For these reasons, the Holy See seeks a complete and explicit
prohibition of all techniques of creating new individual human embryos
by cloning.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
"Holy See's Call for a Ban on All Human Cloning." Text distributed by Holy See Mission
Copyright ©2003 Holy See Mission