Archbishop André Vingt-Trois of Paris has appealed to the principle of “precaution” to prevent surplus embryonal stem cells from being used for research purposes. The decree eagerly awaited by the scientific community of France that authorises the utilization for research purposes of embryos conceived for in vitro fertilization but now surplus to requirements, i.e. no longer needed for procreative purposes, was published in the French official gazette (the Journal Officiel) on 7 February. “In many fields comments Archbishop Vingt-Trois in a long interview given to the French Catholic weekly “La Vie” and published yesterday appeals are made to the principle of precaution, even if there is no real danger. It’s true that an embryo is not a fully developed person, but it cannot be denied that it is a being fully rooted in human existence. On grounds of precaution alone, the embryo ought to be treated with the respect due to every human being”. As regards the hopes of invalids in the possible scientific results of such stem cell research, the bishop declared: “People speak of therapeutic utility, they promise a cure from such diseases as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s, thanks to embryonal stem cells. In actual fact, the prognostics of any such cures are far less optimistic. To believe in such cures is more a blind act of faith which not even in the religious field would people dare to demand. We’ve had enough of hollow promises and propaganda when the heart of human existence is at stake”.
