VATICAN PREPARING FOR NOVEMBER BIOTECH CONFERENCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 003917

SIPDIS


DEPT FOR EUR/WE: LEVIN; EB/TPP/ABT: HKLEMM; EB: MALAC,
CEKUTA; IIP/T/ES: DURANT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/27/2013
TAGS: EAGR ECON PREL SENV SOCI VT
SUBJECT: VATICAN PREPARING FOR NOVEMBER BIOTECH CONFERENCE

REF: VAT 3584

CLASSIFIED BY: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES D. BRENT HARDT. REASON: 1.5 (B)
AND (D).


1. (C) FRANK DEWANE, UNDER SECRETARY OF THE VATICAN'S
COUNCIL FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE TOLD CHARGE AUGUST 27 THAT THE
COUNCIL'S RECENTLY ANNOUNCED BIOTECH CONFERENCE IN NOVEMBER
WAS BEGINNING TO TAKE SHAPE. WHILE THE SPECIFICS ARE STILL
BEING WORKED OUT, DEWANE SAID THAT THE COUNCIL WAS SEEKING TO
ENSURE THAT THE ROSTER OF SPEAKERS WOULD BE WEIGHTED TOWARD
BIOTECH ADVOCATES. DEWANE ALSO NOTED THAT AFTER SOME
INTERNAL DEBATE, THE COUNCIL WAS NOW LIKELY TO ISSUE A
DOCUMENT AFTER THE CONFERENCE -- EITHER A STATEMENT OR A
SUMMARY OF CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS. HE EMPHASIZED THAT THIS
DOCUMENT WOULD REPRESENT THE POSITION OF THE JUSTICE AND
PEACE COUNCIL, BUT WOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED A DEFINITIVE
'PAPAL POSITION.' DEWANE FURTHER NOTED THAT THE CONFERENCE
WOULD HAVE A MEDIA COMPONENT AIMED AT DISSEMINATING THE
COUNCIL'S VIEW WIDELY, ALTHOUGH THE MEDIA WOULD NOT BE
INVITED TO THE CONFERENCE ITSELF.


2. (C) CHARGE WELCOMED THE PROGRESS IN PLANNING FOR THE
CONFERENCE AND THE INDICATIONS THAT THE VATICAN WOULD SEEK TO
EMPHASIZE PRO-BIOTECH VOICES. AT THE SAME TIME, HE
HIGHLIGHTED THE IMPORTANCE OF THE HOLY SEE'S PUTTING OUT A
DEFINITIVE VIEW FOR USE BY BISHOPS AND NUNCIOS WORLDWIDE TO
HELP SHAPE OPINION, PARTICULARLY IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD. HE
POINTED OUT THAT CATHOLIC BISHOPS IN BRAZIL HAD RECENTLY PUT
OUT A STATEMENT OPPOSING BIOTECH FOODS -- A STATEMENT FULL OF
THE WORST MISINFORMATION IMAGINABLE, SUCH AS CLAIMS THAT
BIOTECH FOODS CAUSE ALLERGIC REACTIONS, COULD WIPE OUT
INDIGENOUS CROPS, AND WOULD THREATEN NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY OF
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. GIVEN THE RESPECT WITH WHICH THE
BISHOPS' VIEWS ARE REGARDED IN MANY COUNTRIES, HE NOTED, IT
WAS VITAL THAT THE HOLY SEE ENSURE THAT ITS BISHOPS BASED
PUBLIC STATEMENTS ON FACTS ON NOT FEARS. DEWANE ACKNOWLEDGED
THE IMPORTANCE OF DOING SO, AND REQUESTED THAT THE EMBASSY
PASS ALONG ANY ADDITIONAL POINTS THAT WOULD ASSIST THEM IN
PROVIDING CLEAR AND FACTUAL ANSWERS TO SOME OF THESE CLAIMS,
WHICH HE SAID THE COUNCIL'S PRESIDENT WOULD USE IN SUBSEQUENT
PUBLIC STATEMENTS. CHARGE PROMISED TO PROVIDE A COMPLETE
PACKAGE OF INFORMATION, BUILDING ON PREVIOUS INFORMATION
PROVIDED TO COUNCIL PRESIDENT ARCHBISHOP RENATO MARTINO.


3. (SBU) COMMENT: WE EXPECT THAT THE LATE-SEPTEMBER VISIT
TO POST OF DR. VAL GIDDINGS OF THE BIOTECH INDUSTRY
ORGANIZATION (SPONSORED BY IIP) WILL HELP FRAME THE BIOTECH
DEBATE PUBLICLY AND WITHIN THE VATICAN IN ADVANCE OF
NOVEMBER'S CONFERENCE. GIDDINGS' PLANNED SCHEDULE INCLUDES
CONVERSATIONS WITH NUMEROUS MEMBERS OF THE VATICAN COMMUNITY,
INCLUDING MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE, AS
WELL AS PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS AND A PRESENTATION TO THE
DIPLOMATIC CORPS.

HARDT

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2003VATICA03917 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL