The Catholic Church is “at equitable distance from all democratic parties”. These words were pronounced by Cardinal Karl Lehmann, President of the Bishops Conference, in an interview to the Berlin daily “Tagesspiegel”. Lehmann repeatedly criticized the Cdu’s recent decision to review terms regulating the use of embryo stem cells, a “change of route” which according to the Cardinal “irritated and disappointed” many. “This is not the position of the Church”, he explained, “it’s many Christians’ belief however. Christian values are not those displayed in political party programs since they become evident in practical action”, he affirmed. “It is therefore positive that as relates to the protection of life, the Green Party follows the same views”, he added. “Embryos must be protected and cannot be killed for research purposes”: this is a stand from which the Cdu has distanced itself”, he remarked. “Even in the case of supposed scientific priority interests, politics cannot allow the freedom of research-which views the human embryo as a depository of raw goods-to prevail over the protection of life”, he affirmed.
