I read with interest Clifford Longley's discussion of the Church's position on fertilised ova (The Tablet, 21 February), particularly in the light of the recent decision by the European Court of Justice not to use fertilised ova in stem-cell research, a field of medical science which, like mitochondrial transfer, is intended to relieve countless misery.
I found the arguments he presented against the Church's injunction not to destroy fertilised eggs unconvincing. The human zygote clearly is not in possession of a brain, or any other organ. It merely has the genetic makeup to ensure the future development of these. Yes, the zygote has the capacity to divide; we are all familiar with the phenomenon of identical twins. I agree that we are considering a pre-implantation stage, and wonder if that is relevant.
As a retired GP I had the privilege of dealing with a child who, at an earlier stage in her life, was a frozen blastocyst. In fact, the ability to freeze blastocysts has solved the ethical dilemma inherent in IVF, the destruction of unwanted fertilised eggs. Thanks to this advancement they can await their turn for a chance of life.
It is also true to say that mitochondrial transfer can be conducted from unfertilised eggs. To instead use fertilised ova betrays a lack of trust in continuing medical research and ultimately, in our God-given capacity for progress.
Teresa Adair, Edinburgh
Bishop John Sherrington in his letter (News, 7 February) again demonstrates how out of touch our bishops are with lay Catholic opinion. Leaving the issue of mitochondrial transfer aside, thousands of childless Catholic couples across the world have benefited from conventional in-vitro fertilisation.
Are these couples and their children less likely to understand the mystery of life or become loving families because of the lack of sexual intercourse at their creation? These children are as much of a gift as any other.
Peter Donnachie, Abbots Bromley, Staffordshire
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