Gregor Mendel laid the foundations of modern genetics from his studies of plants.
Image via Wikipedia
VATICAN - Benedict XVI tells the Pontifical Academy for Life: "every discrimination exercised by any power in regard to persons, peoples or ethnic groups on the basis of differences that stem from real or presumed genetic factors is an act of violence against all of humanity."
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - "Every human being, then, is much more than a singular combination of genetic information that is transmitted to him by his parents. The generation of man can never be reduced to the mere reproduction of a new individual of the human species, as is the case with all other animals. Every appearance of a person in the world is always a new creation. If we want to enter into the mystery of human life, then it is necessary that no science isolate itself, pretending to have the last word." These were the words of the Holy Father Benedict XVI in his audience on February 21, in which he met with participants in the International Scientific Congress "New Frontiers of Genetics and the Danger of Eugenics," sponsored by the Pontifical Academy for Life on the occasion of their 15th General Assembly.
\In his address, the Pope recalled that since the mid 19th century, when Augustinian abbot Gregor Mendel discovered the laws of heredity, "his science has truly taken giant steps in understanding the language at the basis of biological information, which determines the development of a living being...This knowledge, the fruit of the genius and toil of countless scholars, make it possible to more easily arrive at not only a more effective and early diagnosis of genetic maladies, but also to create therapies to alleviate the contraction of illnesses and, in some cases, to restore, in the end, the hope of regaining health."
The Pontiff then pointed out the "work of researchers" in these complex areas of science, which requires a collaboration among the different sciences: "This complementarity makes it possible to avoid the danger of a genetic reductionism that would identify the person exclusively with his genetic information and his interaction with his environment." The Pope then mentioned that "man is greater than all of that which makes up his body; in fact, he carries with him the power of thought, which is always drawn to the truth about himself and the world."
Reflecting on the theme of the Congress, Benedict XVI mentioned the risks of eugenics: "The disapproval of eugenics used with violence by a regime, as the fruit of the hatred of a race or group, is so rooted in consciences that it found a formal expression in the 'Universal Declaration of Human Rights.' Despite this, there are appearing in our days troubling manifestations of this hateful practice, which present themselves with different traits... a new mentality is insinuating itself that tends to justify a different consideration of life and personal dignity based on individual desire and individual rights. There is thus a tendency to privilege the capacities for work, efficiency, perfection and physical beauty to the detriment of other dimensions of existence that are not held to be valuable. In this way the respect that is due to every human being -- even in the presence of a defect in his development or a genetic illness that could manifest itself in the course of his life -- is weakened, and those children whose life is judged unworthy of being lived are punished from the moment of conception."
The Pope then mentioned that "every discrimination exercised by any power in regard to persons, peoples or ethnic groups on the basis of differences that stem from real or presumed genetic factors is an act of violence against all of humanity. What must be forcefully reemphasized is the equal dignity of every human being according to the fact itself of having life. Biological, psychological or cultural development or state of health can never become an element of discrimination. It is necessary, on the contrary, to consolidate a culture of hospitality and love that concretely testifies to solidarity with those who suffer, razing the barriers that society often erects, discriminating against those who are disabled and affected by pathologies, or worse - selecting and rejecting in the name of an abstract ideal of health and physical perfection. If man is reduced to an object of experimental manipulation from the first stage of development, that would mean that biotechnologies would surrender to the will of the stronger."
(S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 23/2/2009)
Links:
Complete text of the Holy Father's address, in Italian
http://www.fides.org/ita/magistero/bxvi/udienza_vat_210209.html
