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Church in the WorldVatican investigates stem-cell research at Catholic universitiesBelgium William Jurgensen - 30 June 2007Embryonic stem-cell research conducted at Belgium's two Catholic universities, KU Leuven and UCL Louvain-la-Neuve is being investigated by the Vatican, writes William Jurgensen. Delegations from both universities went to Rome this month to explain their work to the Congregation for Catholic Education. Professor Marc Vervenne, Rector of KU Leuven, the Flemish-speaking university, said they also discussed fertility treatment, abortion, euthanasia and other bioethical issues. "We were not ‘carpeted'," he said, and said he felt no pressure from the Vatican. "We are a Catholic university, but we also advocate research with surplus embryos from fertility clinics even if the Vatican has a different opinion." KU Leuven has been quietly conducting embryonic stem-cell research for a while, despite a Church ban on it. Its department head, Catherine Verfaillie, is a leading researcher into making pluripotent cells from adult stem cells, which are morally acceptable but difficult to produce. Professor Vervenne broke the silence over the research when he became rector last year. "I loathe hypocrisy," he said. |
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