Subject: VISnews 110616
Organization: VIS - Ufficio Stampa della Santa Sede
From: Vatican Information Service - Eng - txt
VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
TWENTY FIRST YEAR - N. 113
ENGLISH
THURSDAY, 16 JUNE 2011
SUMMARY:
- Conference in the Vatican in November on Adult Stem Cells
- Audiences
- Other Pontifical Acts
___________________________________________________________
CONFERENCE IN THE VATICAN IN NOVEMBER ON ADULT STEM CELLS
VATICAN CITY, 16 JUN 2011 (VIS) - At midday today in the Holy See Press
Office a forthcoming international conference on the theme "Adult Stem
Cells: Science and the Future of Man and Culture" was presented. The
conference, organised by the Science and Faith Department of the Pontifical
Council for Culture, is due to be held in the Vatican from 9 to 11 November.
Participating in today's presentation were Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi,
president of the Pontifical Council for Culture; Fr. Tomasz Trafny, director
of the Science and Faith Department of the same pontifical council, and
Robin L. Smith, chairwoman and CEO of NeoStem Inc., U.S.A.
Fr. Trafny explained why his dicastery is participating in an initiative
on adult stem cells, why it is collaborating with the biopharmaceutical
company NeoStem and what projects have emerged from such collaboration.
"For some time", he said, "the Pontifical Council for Culture has been
working to promote serious dialogue between the natural sciences and the
humanities, especially philosophy and theology. One example of this is the
STOQ Project (Science Theology and the Ontological Quest)".
"However", he went on, "our interest in this field of research is
circumscribed. It aims to explore the cultural impact of adult stem cell
research and of regenerative medicine in the medium and long term".
The pontifical council's collaboration with NeoStem arises from "the fact
that we share the same sensitivity towards those ethical values that are
centred on the protection of human life at all stages of its existence",
said Fr. Trafny, noting that the two institutions also share "an interest in
studying the possible cultural impact of scientific discoveries arising from
research on adult stem cells, and their application in the field of
regenerative medicine".
"As concerns possible future projects", he concluded, "we wish to help
students of Pontifical Universities and other Catholic educational
institutions to investigate issues linked to the relationships between the
natural sciences and the humanities, in a possible framework for
interdisciplinary research".
The conference - which will also bring together people who do not have a
background in the life sciences or in medicine - is being organised in
association with the Pontifical Council for Health Pastoral Care and the
Pontifical Academy for Life.
For her part, Robin Smith explained that her company is "pioneering new
medical research with adult stem cells. This research has the potential to
alleviate human suffering by unlocking the healing power of the human body",
she said. "Most importantly, we are able to do all this without destroying
another human life".
"No embryos are destroyed to collect adult stem cells. ... We believe that
human life is unique and needs to be protected at every stage of its
existence. Adult Stem Cell research allows us to advance scientific
knowledge while protecting this ethical position. ... These cells are called
very small embryonic-like stem cells or VSELs, ... and have many of the
beneficial characteristics of an embryonic stem cell, but without the moral
and ethical obstacles because these cells are taken from adults, not embryos
or foetuses".
"Our partnership with the Vatican is focused on four things", Dr. Smith
concluded: "advancing science, eliminating human suffering, educating
today's society as well as future generations, and encouraging collaboration
in the furtherance of these goals".
OP/ VIS
20110616 (560)
AUDIENCES
VATICAN CITY, 16 JUN 2011 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate
audiences:
- Seven prelates from the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India, on their
"ad limina" visit:
- Bishop Arockiasamy Jude Gerald Paulraj of Palayamkottai
- Bishop Jebamalai Susaimanickam of Sivagangai.
- Bishop Antony Devotta of Tiruchirapalli.
- Bishop Yvon Ambroise of Tuticorin.
- Bishop Joseph Anthony Irudayaraj S.D.B. of Dharmapuri.
- Bishop Antonisamy Francis of Kumbakonam.
- Bishop Singaroyan Sebastianappan of Salem.
- Fr. Cornelius Petrus Mayer O.S.A.
AL:AP/ VIS 20110616
(90)
OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
VATICAN CITY, 16 JUN 2011 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Fr. James
Thoppil of the clergy of the diocese of Khoima, India, rector of the Oriens
Theological College at Shillong, as bishop of Khoima (area 16,579,
population 2,154,000, Catholics 57,549, priests 156, religious 331). The
bishop-elect was born in Kottayam, India in 1959 and ordained a priest in
1986.
NER/ VIS
20110616 (70)
_____________________________________________
For further information and research of documents visit:
www.visnews.org and www.vatican.va
VIS english (text format) sends its news service only to those who have
requested it. If you no longer wish to receive the service, visit the
following link and click on calcel. Don't forget to select language and text
format:
http://press.catholica.va/news_services/press/vis/englinde.php
COPYRIGHT: The news items contained in the Vatican Information Service
may be used, in part or in their entirety, by quoting the source:
V.I.S. -Vatican Information Service
--- NetMgr/2 1.0y+
* Origin: NetMgr+ @ Sursum Corda! BBS Meridian MS USA (1:396/45)
|
