Faith

Members of the Vatican‘s Bioethics Panel Call for Board Resignations Over ’Planned Parenthood-Like’ Conference

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Members of the Vatican‘s bioethics advisory panel have called for its board to resign after scientists who don’t support core church teaching on issues like birth control and infertility were featured at its annual conference.

The members said the Pontifical Academy of Life’s Feb. 24 conference on diagnosing and treating infertility was a “Planned Parenthood-like meeting” that caused great scandal. They were upset because it was a Vatican meeting open to the public yet “consisted in promoting uncritically what the church teaches to be intrinsically bad.”

Members of the Vaticans Bioethics Panel Call for Resignations Over Planned Parenthood Like Annual Conference

Church teaching opposes in vitro fertilization because it separates conception from intercourse between husband and wife, and often results in the destruction of embryos. The Vatican also opposes artificial contraception, holding that life begins at conception.

In the past, the academy has tended to invite only like-minded professionals to speak at its conferences, ensuring that its proceedings, papers and discussions reflect church teaching. Members say this is designed to give the faithful the best in scientific information that is in-line with Catholic doctrine.

Under the academy’s new head, Monsignor Ignacio Carrasco de Paula, there seems to be a new openness however to engage with non-likeminded scientists while holding true to church teaching on the need to defend life from conception until natural death.

Josef Seifert, an academy member who is rector of the International Academy of Philosophy in Liechtenstein, wrote a letter May 4 to Carrasco suggesting that the Pontifical Academy’s board resign. He cited the “enormous concern” of several members that the academy was “losing its full and pure commitment to the truth and its enthusiastic service to the unreduced magnificent church teaching on human life in its whole splendor.”

Members of the Vaticans Bioethics Panel Call for Resignations Over Planned Parenthood Like Annual Conference

The letter, first reported by the Catholic News Agency, said five of the first seven presentations dealt with the pill, artificial insemination and in-vitro fertilization from a purely neutral standpoint, neglecting any moral references.

“This alone is a great evil for a public congress sponsored by (the academy) because a neutral scientific description of methods of infertility treatment has absolutely no place in our academy, which was explicitly founded to deal with these matters in the light of anthropological, theological and moral truth,” he wrote.

The Rev. Scott Borgman, the academy’s coordinating secretary, said the academy was aware of the concerns reflected in Seifert’s letter and was working to move forward. But in a telephone interview with The Associated Press, Borgman stressed that the academy’s work also aimed at “creating dialogue with science and not closing ourselves off.”

“Most of the members are congruous with the vision of the academy, which is able to understand at once what we believe, and hear other viewpoints knowing that we don’t sustain or promote viewpoints which go against truth and the defense of human life from conception until natural death,” he said.

Members of the Vaticans Bioethics Panel Call for Resignations Over Planned Parenthood Like Annual Conference

He stressed that the academy was a scientific research institution “open to dialogue with the scientific world.”

The academy is made up of its Vatican-based secretariat and a membership of Catholic medical doctors, philosophers, clergy and bioethicists from across the globe. It was founded by Pope John Paul II in 1994 to promote and defend human life and it serves as a key bioethical advisory board for the Vatican.

To some degree, the dispute reflects an apparent difference in vision between the secretariat and the more hard-core pro-life members.

But in another, it reflects a broader tension within the church over Pope Benedict XVI’s aim to emphasize traditional Catholic identity in everything from Catholic universities to religious orders, while at the same time encouraging dialogue with scientists and even atheists. Some think you can’t do both, and that the church merely creates confusion by engaging in such dialogue.

Members of the Vaticans Bioethics Panel Call for Resignations Over Planned Parenthood Like Annual Conference

Christine de Vollmer, a founding member of the academy and president of the Latin American Alliance for the Family, said many academy members say the academy‘s current leadership isn’t acting in line with what John Paul envisaged.

“It’s clearly not in our statutes to bring up and re-study issues of human life that have already been decided,” she said in a phone interview from her home in Caracas, Venezuela.

The statutes do allow for collaboration with non-Catholic and non-Christian scientists, but only if they “recognize that the dignity of man and the inviolability of human life from conception to natural death … is the essential moral foundation of the science and art of medicine.”

It was the second time the academy has come under fire from its members for its speakers’ list this year.

In March, it hastily canceled a stem cell research conference whose speakers included scientists whose work involves human embryonic stem cells, which is opposed by the church. The academy said too few sponsors and participants had signed up to take part.

And in 2010, the academy’s membership rebelled against its then-president, Monsignor Renato Fisichella, over his less-than-condemnatory comments about abortion. He was soon replaced.

Comments (29)

  • conservativewoman
    Posted on May 15, 2012 at 11:51am

    I am a Catholic and would recommend the website realcatholictv.org. It gives great insight through videos of problems in the Church and what real Catholics can do about it. I am getting really fed up with the CINO’S (Catholics in name only) who refuse to follow Church teachings.

    I am very happy that Pope Benedict is helping Jesus prune the branches.

    Report Post » conservativewoman  
  • lukerw
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 3:27pm

    Stand by GOD… even if you are Destroyed. What is the other Option?

    Report Post » lukerw  
  • Arcangel Michael
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 3:00pm

    Jesus, I trust in You

    http://thedivinemercy.org/message/devotions/chaplethistory.php

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AySdEJx50Z0&feature=related

    Report Post » Arcangel Michael  
  • bigpatrick87
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 10:35am

    this had happened b4 folks it was called the protestant reformation when the medici family bought the papacy 4 or 500 yrs ago causing all the anger the church feels today coming at her.

    Report Post »  
    • Alessandre
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 2:19pm

      huh? Who is buying what?

      There is a struggle in the Church to oust those who don’t follow Church teaching from positions of influence & power & it’s about time. The Church is being purified & clearing out the communists & liberals. Same fight that’s happening here, further along.

      Report Post »  
  • Fipper
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 10:31am

    You are Catholic and adhere to it’s doctrine or you are not. Just look at the Jesuits what they have done at Georgetown. There are no Catholic universities anymore. I am glad that someone is standing up for life.

    Report Post »  
    • angelcat
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 10:55am

      Go to the Cardinal Newman Society website. It rates “Catholic” universities and tells you if they are truly Catholic or not. Some that are still Catholic are St. Thomas University in Houston and St. Francis which, I think, is somewhere in Ohio. Ave Maria University in Florida is also still truly Catholic.

      Report Post »  
    • AppleAnnie
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 11:45am

      Jesuits are Georgetown have little to say about the University. It’s run by a bunch of liberal, progressive “lay people.” Most Jesuits are good priests. Good men. Humble men. There a a number of true Catholic universities – Ave Maria, Stubenville – Dallas. Problem is the “non-Catholic” universities long ago gave up their Catholic identity. Politicians who claim to be “Catholic” have excommunicated themselves. The scandal is, in my opinion, is that they still receive the Eucharist. They still proclaim their faith while going against the teachings of the Church. Seems like bishops will not proclaim, publicly, that these “Catholics” are excommunicated. I’d like one to stand up and say no more of this. This is creating a huge scandal within the American Catholic church.

      Report Post »  
    • JimmyP
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 11:58am

      There ARE Catholic Universities.
      And there are “Catholic” Universities that seem to take pleasure in being opposed to unshakable Church doctrine that DESPERATELY need to have their adherence to the Magesterium brought unequivocally and without delay back into alignment.

      Perhaps Catholics who are orthodox (small “o” orthodox) Catholics should splinter off from the Catholic-Lite church and take the Pope along with us…

      Sorta like being an avowed, militant, outspoken Vegan who likes to have a rare steak every week because they are so dang tasty.

      Report Post » JimmyP  
    • Mr. H.
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 1:11pm

      Stubenville Ohio has a really good one.

      Report Post »  
  • bigpatrick87
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 10:29am

    I’m catholic also and this is the same stuff that happened 4 and 500 yrs ago that the worlds hates us for now. When the medici family bought the papacy and was selling indulgences pushing forward the protestant reformation. Well now super libs got power again in the vatican and are turning on it’s head. Many problems are being brought into the light these days and we need to become stricter in our own lives so when these corrupt officials try and use our own faults against us we can hold their feets to the fire and put the fear of god back in them. Come on folks tighten your reigns and be the men and women we expect others to be. Ya dig?

    Report Post »  
  • zoro51
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 10:20am

    cathoLICK church has bene around sone well 100 ad.. LONG run to be dictating what WE should n shoudnt do since THEY dont follow thier own rules n hire PEDOPHILES.. now it is time for the cathoLICK church ot go away.. thier petty words stances n TOUCHINGS need to be gone MEN in dresses wiht RED LADY HATS EVEN A OLD TROLL WIHT A FISH FOR A HAT… TIME TO TELL THE CATHOLICK CHURCH via con dios adios puta

    Report Post » zoro51  
    • HowardSternIsABigot
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 11:23am

      sounds like you vaya con diablo along time ago. Now we know you dont like catholic teaching, just what do you believe. Most likely, you established yourself as god and judge of right and wrong, without any qualifications or scrutiny. Destroyers, tear it down but cant rebuild. Who is going to be the decider if the church is gone? SATAN? yup

      Report Post »  
    • KrebsCyclist
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 12:17pm

      Is your brain anomaly operable?

      Report Post »  
    • angelcat
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 2:42pm

      How about writing in English next time, though what you say doesn’t make sense in any language. The Church is comprised of humans. Humans sin, even if they are Catholic.

      Report Post »  
  • suedstate
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 10:09am

    I am not Catholic but I do believe in supreme power, and I have to agree with the Catholic teaching to a degree.
    When man presumes to be God and interferes with what is natural there are dire concequences, women have had an alarming rate of breast cancer since the 60′s when they introduced the pill, and the thousands of dollars paid to clinics for in vitro mostly to desperate couples, when there are millions of children waiting to be adopted.
    Designer babies, where does it all end. EUGENICS!!!

    Report Post »  
    • Butters66
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 1:12pm

      I wouldn’t be alive if not for in vitro fertilization. Please stop saying I should not exist.

      Although I can understand their stance on birth control I don’t understand their opposition to creating life.

      Report Post »  
  • marybethelizabeth
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 9:27am

    Another article bashing Catholicism
    Mr. Beck’s double speak continues.

    When it comes to the Mormon faith Mr. Beck argues that we should ignore differences and focus on areas of agreement.
    But whenever any other religion is mentioned there is always criticism, especially the fundamentalists who are supposedly teaching some made up Beckian “social justice”, that doesn’t exist.

    Mr. Beck’s spreading divisiveness is Luciferian.

    Report Post » marybethelizabeth  
    • brother_ed
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 10:20am

      @MARYBETHELIZABETH

      That’s interesting, I thought the article was highlighting the fact that the Catholic church was standing up for it’s doctrine.

      Report Post » brother_ed  
    • marybethelizabeth
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 11:00am

      No it doesn’t. You have misunderstood or not read the whole article. It is criticizing the Pope.

      quote:

      “the church merely creates confusion by engaging in such dialogue.”

      More of Mr. Beck’s double speak and your misunderstanding is evidence of Mr. Beck’s mendacity.

      Report Post » marybethelizabeth  
    • brother_ed
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 11:29am

      “This alone is a great evil for a public congress sponsored by (the academy) because a neutral scientific description of methods of infertility treatment has absolutely no place in our academy,”

      I read this, and see it as the church cleaning itself up.

      I guess that’s why there are so many Christian churches, different interpretations of the same text.

      Believe how you want, but please stop criticizing Glenn’s religion, it’s un-American. Agree to disagree.

      Report Post » brother_ed  
    • marybethelizabeth
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 11:45am

      I am not criticizing Mr. Beck’s religion.

      I am pointing out that he is fueling the anti-papist sentiment in the evangelical community for his personal gain, trying to deflect and transfer the anti-mormon sentiment onto Catholicism.

      It’s blatant.
      Mr. Beck’s attempts to divide Christians is Luciferian.

      Report Post » marybethelizabeth  
    • KrebsCyclist
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 12:20pm

      Your mask slipped when you said “anti-papist.”

      Good trolls are subtle, Marybethelizabeth. You are transparent.

      Report Post »  
    • angelcat
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 4:51pm

      As a Catholic, I thought the article was supportive of the Pope’s position and that most of the Blaze articles on Catholics are supportive – and I am very critical as is my husband. Perhaps you are reading things into the articles that are not there.

      Report Post »  
  • biffo
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:34am

    I’m with Gonzo. Be a Catholic, or not. I am deeply offended when I see obama stickers on the cars in the church parking lot. I am a member of a number of Catholic associations and have had some arguements with members who promote politicians who clearly are not following the Catholic religion. Today our children are being indoctrinated by the Catholic hating educational complex, the presidential regime is surely a Godless blight on our country. Time to stand up and be counted. You are not a Catholic because of what you say. It is what you believe and what you do in your day to day life. The enemy is at our gate! Time to heat up the oil and sharpen our swords.

    Report Post »  
    • LolaB
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 9:02am

      BIFFO…I am with ya. I too cannot stand it when I see Obama stickers on cars in the church parking lot…thank goodness I have not seen any in my little conservative church…but I have else where. My children attend a Catholic school and one of the teachers had a pro-Wellstone (from Minnesota) bumper sticker on his car…I complained and I know other parents did too. My gosh are they that clueless?????

      It is NOW TIME that we stand up and take back the country and our beloved Catholic church. Satan is working overtime these days. God bless.

      Report Post »  
  • conservativejon
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:44am

    its good to see the Vatican taking a stand, after what seemed like so many years of just giving in.

    Report Post »  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:10am

      I would like to see them start excommunicating Catholic public officials that openly support positions and legislation that are antithetical to Catholic doctrine. They could start with Biden.

      Report Post » Gonzo  
    • Dismayed Veteran
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:33am

      Gonzo

      I am a Catholic. I agree 100%. The Church should view these politicians as apostates because they deny the fundamental teachings.

      Report Post » Dismayed Veteran  

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