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Church in the WorldDiscovery could avert clash with universityBelgium William Jurgensen - 15 December 2007A scientific breakthrough in stem-cell research could help avert a showdown between the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) and the Catholic University of Leuven (KUL) in Belgium, writes William Jurgensen. The university has been under investigation by the CDF and risked losing its Catholic status because it conducts embryonic stem-cell research at its fertility centre. American and Japanese researchers announced last month that they had created stem cells from ordinary skin cells without destroying human embryos. The Vatican opposes embryonic stem-cell research because it involves the destruction of the embryo created to provide the stem cells. KUL officials have held talks at the CDF over the last year. Vice-rector Mark Waer said: "This new development can positively influence the talks with Rome. If these insights are confirmed, it should eventually no longer be necessary to experiment with embryos." Leuven's research already includes efforts at making pluripotent cells from adult stem cells. The new procedures have proved so convincing that some scientists - most notably Ian Wilmut, the cloner of Dolly the sheep - say they will focus their future work on it. |
 In this week’s issueMaking markets moral Iron and velvet Love in a Catholic climate Someone to talk to A good Lent takes planning South American surprise Can the Church support abuse victims on its own terms? Elena Curti Is the Church too slow in recognising that academies are the future for Catholic schools? Christopher Lamb Goodwin the scapegoat Elena Curti The pain of being a coeliac Catholic Sr M, guest contributor The Church's moral obligation to victims of clerical sexual abuse Speeches from this week's conference in Rome This week in Rome bishops and religious superiors met at the first Vatican-backed symposium devoted to forging a global response to the crisis of clerical sexual abuse that has disgraced ... Archbishop voices 'shame and sorrow' after priest's abuse trial Longley to visit parishes 'damaged' by Walsh Today, Tuesday 7 February, Bede Walsh, who served as a Catholic priest in the Archdiocese of Birmingham, has been convicted by a jury, following a 10-day trial at Stoke-on-Trent ...
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