Bioethics: the bishops’ reservations” “

Many problems were tackled by the plenary assembly of German bishops held in Stuttgart from 18 to 21 February under the presidency of Cardinal Karl Lehmann. The issues discussed included recent developments in the field of bioethics; the role of Catholic marriage counsellors; the new developments in the pastoral care of the armed services; the results of the PISA survey (international programme for educational assessment) commissioned by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD); the teaching of religion in vocational schools; the Church and the Eucharist; the preparations for the ecumenical Kirchentag in Berlin in 2003; the feast for the introduction of adults into the Church; the situation of Christians in the Holy Land; and the meeting with bishops in underdeveloped countries. The discussion on bioethics. A central focal point during the assembly was an in-depth reflection on the vote in the Bundestag on 30 January authorizing the importation of embryonal stem cells for research purposes and its implications (cf. SirEurope nos. 4-5/2002). The bishops urged respect for the rigid conditions laid down by the bill, which was given a majority vote in the Bundestag, but about which the bishops express “strong reservations”. The motion in fact stipulates “that the law must oppose the use of other embryos to obtain embryonal stem cells” and that “the importation of the said cells both for public projects and for projects financed by the private sector must remain prohibited and be tolerated only as an exceptional measure for research purposes and, in such cases, only with the licences prescribed”. The same strong reservations are expressed about the “consent of the parents” to make the cells available, both because this raises “a question of constitutional conformity” and because “a juridical recognition of this right of the parents would ignore the right of the subject” (i.e. the unborn child). A recommendation was also made by the bishops to ensure the independence of Germany’s ethics commission, and prevent any kind of “collusion of interests through links with those conducting the research”. Catholic marriage counsellors. Following the ban imposed in 1999 on so-called abortion approval certificates, the activity of Catholic marriage counsellors has been revamped and diversified: they now offer support also in the field of PID (Pre-Implant Diagnosis) and assist “women who have already received a ‘certificate’ in other counselling services, but who are no longer sure they want to have an abortion and seek other advice.” Their field of activity has been extended, not least, to “improve the Church’s communication and cooperation in promoting the protection of life”. The possibility of granting financial aid to women who decide to keep their own child, rather than have an abortion, was also examined and approved by the assembly; this represents in particular a recognition of the role played by the association Donum Vitae. A debate on education. The results of the OECD study, not very flattering for the performance of German students and for the German school system in general, were published at the end of last year and provoked a lively debate on education. In the view of the Episcopal Conference, “the study represents the occasion for a really new departure in education policy that may transcend partisan interests and ideologies” and “help it to regain the attention it deserves in public opinion and in politics”. “What’s important – continue the bishops – is that a new discussion be opened on the concept of education, to which schools ought to refer”. Patrizia Collesi