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UCC’s approval of embryonic stem-cell research is "unethical"

Archbishop Dermot Clifford statement concerning UCC decision on embryonic stem cell research

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Youth Defence say that the Ethics board is seriously undermined by political agenda.

Pro-life leaders have reacted strongly to the decision by UCC to allow embryonic stem cell lines to be imported for research. Youth Defence have warned that the decision is part of a concerted effort led by Mary Harney appointee, Deirdre Madden, to have embryo research legalised in Ireland by undermining the legal protection afforded to the unborn child from conception. The Mother and Child Campaign (M&CC) have also sharply criticised UCC’s governing body and pointed out that the University Research Ethics Board who would decide on when embryonic stem cell lines could be used in the future was seriously compromised.

“It looks likely that Dr Deirdre Madden will sit on that board; she is a campaigner for embryo research and approved of the most extreme recommendations of the Commission for Assisted Human Reproduction, which would have allowed human embryos to be cloned for research purposes,” said Niamh Ui Bhriain of M&CC. “It is disingenuous in the extreme to pretend that ethics will be upheld here.”

The governing body vote was extremely tight with just 16 votes to 15 approving the proposal. The Irish Times reported that President of UCC, Dr Michael Murphy, spoke in favour of the code of practice, citing the fact that a number of researchers at the university had said that embryonic stem cell research was essential to their work, something Youth Defence have deplored. “Nazi scientists also argued that experimenting on human life was necessary,” said Carolyn Johnston. “There can be no justification for something that is morally wrong.”



Youth Defence will protest at UCC this Friday (31 October) – please call Ide or Katie on 01 8730463 for further details

Source : TruthTV

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Youth Defence has said that the decision of the governing body of University College Cork to approve embryonic stem cell research was the result of a carefully choreographed bid to undermine legal protection for the human embryo. Spokeswoman Carolyn Johnston added that it was a “regressive step to experiment on human life when the scientific community was turning away from embryo research and adult stem cells were producing fantastic results.”

The governing body of University College Cork agreed today to begin experimentation on human embryonic stem cell lines. The decision was prompted by its Ethics Board – but that board is chaired by Dr Deirdre Madden, she was previously a member of the Commission on Assisted Reproduction and a long-time campaigner in favour of embryo research. “The Commission for Assisted Human Reproduction went as far as calling for the legalisation of cloning, they are completely out of touch with the views of the majority of people in this country on this issue,” said Ms Johnston. “This decision by the UCC governing body seems most carefully planned– and is a bid to undermine legal protection for the human embryos.”

Ms. Johnston said that it was inappropriate for Dr. Madden to bring her personal convictions to bear on ethical matters of national importance and questioned her appointment to various state bodies when she had a very obvious stance on issues concerning early human life. Dr. Madden, a legal expert and not a medical doctor, was appointed by Mary Harney onto the Irish Medical Council.

Under her Chair, the UCC ethics board conducted a private consultation amongst academic staff querying as to whether they would support lethal research on human embryos. The University Research Ethics Board asked faculty members to choose between four options, with only one option rejecting the use of embryonic stem cells as unethical.

Youth Defence said that the proposal seemed to have a political, rather than a scientific agenda, and that the proposal would not enjoy the support of the Irish people.“Submissions to the ICB showed that 70% of Irish people opposed research on human embryos, while 65 % said they would be unwilling to use medical treatments that were developed using embryonic stem cells,” said Carolyn Johnston. “Neither ivory-tower academics nor political quangos should be allowed to override the wishes of the people.”

“The decision by UCC is deplorable,” she added.“It contradicts the newest scientific developments and remains doggedly fixed to an unscientific position from which the rest of the world has moved on.”

Source : TruthTV

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Archbishop Clifford, as a member of the Governing Body of UCC, informed the Board of Governors of the Catholic Church’s teaching on stem cell research and the Archbishop reiterated that human life is sacred from the moment of conception until natural death.

Archbishop Clifford believes that it is wrong to conduct research on embryonic stem cells and that such research should be prohibited by law. This research is contrary to the ethical and moral teaching of the Catholic Church because it is contrary to the common good.

Source : Irish Catholic Bishops

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