Subject: VISnews 111108   
   Organization: VIS - Ufficio Stampa della Santa Sede   
   From: Vatican Information Service - Eng - txt    
      
   VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE   
      
   TWENTY FIRST YEAR - N. 192   
   ENGLISH   
   TUESDAY, 8 NOVEMBER 2011   
      
   SUMMARY:   
      
   - Adult Stem Cells Avoiding Ethical Dilemmas   
   - Other Pontifical Acts   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
   ADULT STEM CELLS: AVOIDING ETHICAL DILEMMAS   
      
   VATICAN CITY, 8 NOV 2011 (VIS) - An international conference entitled "Adult   
   Stem Cells: Science and the Future of Man and Culture" is due to being   
   tomorrow in the Vatican, lasting until 11 November. The event, which has   
   been organised by the U.S. Stem for Life Foundation and by the Pontifical   
   Council for Culture, has the aim of supporting research and increasing   
   public awareness of treatment using adult stem cells. The conference will be   
   attended by 350 scientists, religious figures, politicians, educators and   
   industry representatives.   
      
     Today's press conference was presented by Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi,   
   president of the Pontifical Council for Culture; Fr. Tomasz Trafny, head of   
   the Council's science department; Tommy G. Thompson, former U.S. Secretary   
   of Health and Human Services, and Dr. Robin Smith, president of the Stem for   
   Life Foundation and chief executive of NeoStem, the company which backs the   
   Foundation.   
      
     Primary stem cells are of two kinds: embryonic and adult. When a stem cell   
   divides, each new cell has the potential either to remain a stem cell or to   
   become another type of cell with a more specialised function, such as a   
   muscle cell or brain cell. Sources of adult stem cells have been found in   
   the bone marrow, the blood and the liver. This offers the possibility of a   
   renewable source of replacement cells and tissues to treat many diseases.   
   Dr. Smith explained how the use of adult stem cells avoids "the ethical   
   dilemma posed by the use of embryonic stem cells. Adult stem cell research   
   and therapy allows us to advance scientific knowledge while protecting every   
   stage of existence".   
      
     In the world today, 12.7 million people suffer from cancer, 346 million   
   from diabetes and 583 million from autoimmune diseases. New therapy using   
   adult stem cells can give them hope of improvement and cure. Such treatment   
   has been used successfully in cases of multiple sclerosis and leukaemia, and   
   "in the not too distant future we will be able to use adult stem cells to   
   rebuild damaged tissue and repair organs such as the heart", Dr. Smith said.   
      
     Fr. Trafny explained that the conference will seek both to publicise the   
   achievements of medical science, and to reflect upon them from the   
   perspective of the human sciences. "We wish to raise some important and   
   sometimes provocative questions", he said, "such as whether the Hippocratic   
   oath should be extended to all the life sciences, because today it is not   
   only doctors but also laboratory scientists who have power to intervene in   
   all phases of human life".   
      
     In closing, Fr. Trafny expressed his thanks for the support of the   
   Pontifical Council for Health Pastoral Care and of the Pontifical Academy   
   for Life.   
   CON-CU/                                                         VIS 20111108   
   (450)   
      
   OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS   
      
   VATICAN CITY, 8 NOV 2011 (VIS) - The Holy Father:   
      
    - Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of   
   Neuquen, Argentina, presented by Bishop Marcelo Melani S.D.B., in accordance   
   with canon 401 para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law. He is succeeded by   
   Coadjutor Bishop Virginio Bressanelli S.C.I.   
      
    - Appointed Bishop Edmundo Ponciano Valenzuela Mellid S.D.B., apostolic   
   vicar of Chaco Paraguayo, Paraguay, as coadjutor archbishop of Asuncion   
   (area 2,582, population 1,690,000, Catholics 1,531,000, priests 220,   
   permanent deacons 64, religious 864), Paraguay.   
      
    - Appointed Fr. Anselm Umoren M.S.P., superior general of the Missionary   
   Society of St. Paul, as auxiliary of the archdiocese of Abuja (area 8,000,   
   population 2,889,000, Catholics 519,632, priests 108, religious 330),   
   Nigeria. The bishop-elect was born in Ukana Nto, Nigeria in 1962 and   
   ordained a priest in 1988. He studied in Ireland where he obtained his   
   Masters and has worked as a missionary in Sierra Leone, Cameroon and Sudan.   
   RE:NEC:NEA/                                                     VIS 20111108   
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   _____________________________________________   
      
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