NEW VATICAN INSTRUCTION ON BIOETHICS: DIGNITAS PERSONAE

Washington, DC – American Life League president Judie Brown issued the following statement today:"

American Life League is grateful to the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith for the release of its new document, 'Instruction Dignitas Personae on Certain Bioethical Questions.'

"While we are concerned that the document does not clarify the word 'conception' immediately after the first time it is used, upon reading further, we do appreciate the fact that the Vatican has made it clear that 'conception,' as used in this document, refers to all human beings irrespective of the method of reproduction employed.

"We would be remiss if we did not quote from the document to remind our fellow Americans that the entire practice of embryo reduction, based on 'quality control' notions, is indeed a heinous crime and a violation of the rights due to each innocent embryonic child. In Section 21, the document states,

From the ethical point of view, embryo reduction is an intentional selective abortion. It is in fact the deliberate and direct elimination of one or more innocent human beings in the initial phase of their existence and as such it always constitutes a grave moral disorder.

"We are grateful as well that the Vatican has drawn attention to the 'interceptive' and 'contragestative' actions of many so-called contraceptive chemicals and devices, making it crystal clear that 'the use of means of interception and contragestation fall within the sin of abortion and are gravely immoral.'"

The document 'Dignitas Personae' is a welcome statement that clarifies, in nearly all cases, the teachings of the Catholic Church regarding the human person, his identity, his value and his integrity."

"American Life League will work with diligence to assure personhood for these and all human beings."
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