Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
01VATICAN1745
2001-03-30 10:47:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Vatican
Cable title:  

VATICAN CONDEMNS CLONING BUT PROTECTS THE CLONES

Tags:  PREL PHUM SOCI TBIO VT 
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UNCLAS VATICAN 001745 

SIPDIS

DEPT. FOR EUR/WE (VAN CLEVE)
FROM EMBASSY VATICAN/MESSAGE NO. 52/01
DEPT. PLS PASS TO HOUSE OFFICE OF TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
PLS PASS TO OVERSIGHT AND INVESTIGATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE, HOUSE
ENERGY AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM SOCI TBIO VT
SUBJECT: VATICAN CONDEMNS CLONING BUT PROTECTS THE CLONES

UNCLAS VATICAN 001745

SIPDIS

DEPT. FOR EUR/WE (VAN CLEVE)
FROM EMBASSY VATICAN/MESSAGE NO. 52/01
DEPT. PLS PASS TO HOUSE OFFICE OF TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
PLS PASS TO OVERSIGHT AND INVESTIGATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE, HOUSE
ENERGY AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM SOCI TBIO VT
SUBJECT: VATICAN CONDEMNS CLONING BUT PROTECTS THE CLONES


1. CHARGE AND POLITICAL ASSISTANT MET MARCH 23 WITH THE
POPE'S THEOLOGIAN, FRENCH-BORN DOMINICAN MONK GEORGES
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 VATICA 01745 311607Z
COTTIER, TO DISCUSS THE CLONING OF HUMAN BEINGS. COTTIER
AFFIRMED THE VATICAN POSITION THAT CLONING IS IMMORAL IN
EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE. HOWEVER, HE STRESSED THAT HUMAN BEINGS
THAT RESULT FROM CLONING PROCEDURES MUST BE CONSIDERED EQUAL
TO ANY OTHER PERSON IN REGARD TO RIGHTS AND
RESPONSIBILITIES. (NOTE: TRANSLATED THEOLOGICALLY, FOR THE
VATICAN THESE CLONES WILL HAVE THE SAME IMMORTAL SOULS THAT
ALL HUMAN BEINGS POSSESS. END NOTE). COTTIER FIRMLY
DISMISSED THE POSSIBILITY OF A SUB-HUMAN RACE OF CLONES.
(NOTE: THE VATICAN ACCEPTS CLONING THERAPIES USING PLANTS
AND ANIMALS WHEN THIS DIRECTLY BENEFITS HUMAN PERSONS IN
TERMS OF FOOD AND HEALTH CARE, AS LONG AS ANIMAL RIGHTS AND
BIO-DIVERSITY ARE RESPECTED. END NOTE).


2. COTTIER ACCEPTED THE LICITY OF CLONING INDIVIDUAL BODY
PARTS FOR THERAPEUTIC PURPOSES. HE ALSO APPROVED OF THE USE
OF ANIMAL ORGANS FOR TRANSPLANTATION INTO HUMANS, IF PROPER
HEALTH SAFEGUARDS WERE FOLLOWED. COTTIER SAID THE USE OF
ADULT STEM CELLS IN HEALTH-CARE THERAPIES WAS LEGITIMATE. HE
CONDEMNED THE USE OF STEM CELLS FROM FETUSES DESTROYED BY
THE TECHNIQUE.


3. COMMENT: FATHER COTTIER EXPRESSED HIS APPRECIATION THAT
EMBASSY OFFICERS REPRESENTING THE USG HAD SHOWN FORESIGHTED
INTEREST IN HUMAN CLONING. HE OPINED THAT WHILE THE
TECHNIQUE SEEMED INEVITABLE, MOST GOVERNMENTS HAD FAILED TO
ANTICIPATE ITS MORAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS. END
COMMENT. MERANTE

UNCLASSIFIED

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2001VATICA01745 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED