Vatican partners with company to discuss stem-cell research

[rug]

Nov. 08, 2011
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY -- New biotechnologies raise questions in the fields of medicine, economics, ethics and philosophy, and the Vatican plans to look at all of them during a three-day conference devoted to adult stem-cell research, officials said.

The Pontifical Council for Culture partnered with NeoStem, Inc., a U.S. company researching and marketing adult stem-cell therapies, to sponsor the Nov. 9-11 international conference, "Adult Stem Cells: Science and the Future of Man and Culture."

Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, council president, said that in the modern field of research all sorts of potential interests intertwine, including health care and economic interests. In searching for a partner to promote research and discussion about adult stem cells, the Vatican sought a collaborator whose ethical practices fit in with the Vatican's own views, he said.

Father Tomasz Trafny, who works with the cardinal on issues of religion and science, said, "We struggled to find the right partner," and while NeoStem is a business, "it is one that has a very clear ethical statement" that it will not destroy human embryos to obtain stem cells.

http://ncronline.org/news/politics/vatican-partners-company-discuss-stem-cell-research

[Deep13]

1. The headline took me a few seconds to decifer.

I thought it meant that the Vatican has business partners and then it seemed like a sentence fragment. "Partners" is now a verb, I guess.

[rug]

2. That's what I thought at first too.

Apparently the Vatican is sponsoring this conference to promote adult stem cell research, which it supports, rather than embryonic stem cells, since these require the destruction of an embryo. Doubtless this conference will give the company an immense boost, even if the Vatican gets nothing monetary out of it.

[MarkCharles]

3. Vatican tries to find out if there is a profit that can be made, that's how I read..

this.

Think about it, hedging bets? A hedge fund that bets against the progress of science because several million idiotic American religiously motivated folks get all the stem cell corporations shut down.

The Vatican, only reason to meet with anybody: profit.

[rug]

4. Then you're reading it wrong.

The Vatican organization promoting this is a 501(c)3 public charity.

http://www.stemforlifefoundation.com/

[MarkCharles]

5. Yes, of course I am! Of Course!

Vatican, never made a cent, gave all their money to charity and scientific research.

I should have known that they are broke.

[rug]

6. You will find that staying on point prevents you from fluttering out the window.

[MarkCharles]

7. Got any facts to back up my SARCASM? with facts ?

NO?

I'd advise you tell me the total value of Vatican properties, net wealth, then tell me what purpose rich, lifelong celibate people have to do with this issue, other than $ ???

[rug]

8. The topic is stem cell research, not talking point #73.

Not to mention celibacy. :eyes: