Some were again talking pretty big: In the laboratory of an American biotech firm, it is said that the cloning of a human embryo was finally achieved. Basically, this has been expected for a long time, at least since the clone-sheep Dolly has existed. What actually happened, however, is somewhat less spectacular. After being manipulated many times, two cells each divided twice and then died. All the same, one formed six daughter cells before it also died. This process triggered a worldwide storm, even though experts waved it indifferently aside and determined that nothing essentially new had taken place. But making a lot of noise about this is part of the job. The successful treatment of cells with electric shocks and chemicals in Massachusetts and the implantation of fertile cells into denucleated egg cells were announced as a breakthrough on the way to therapeutic cloning. By the way, a special selling point of the firm from Massachusetts is their moral claims: They have their own moral theologian, who, with the help of a board of examiners, observes and gives professional opinions on the work of the firm. When speaking with the Frankfurt Allgemein Zeitung, a respected German daily newspaper, he gave a positive accounting: Therapeutic cloning has a great future, promised Green, the bio-technician from America who gives cloning theological support. But he will meanwhile advice against creating cloned human beings soon. Reason: the poor rate of success of the experiments. Bravo! When the cloned embryos no longer die so quickly as they have until now, then apparently theological blessing will also be given.

Until further notice, reports such as the one from Massachusetts trigger dutiful expressions of horror at irregular intervals - from politicians, representatives of the Church and scientists - at least externally. And for the time being, they occupy themselves with questions on how far the work with stem cells should be allowed. For the concern is with research and supposed medical help. The latter is already questionable, since substitute cells for defective heart muscles or nerve systems could be taken from so-called adult cells, that is, cells from adults. The stem cells from embryos are naturally seen as especially suitable, or multipotent. In England their production is expressly allowed for the purpose of therapeutic cloning. In Germany it is expressly forbidden according to the laws for embryo protection. For this reason, German scientists came up with the idea of importing stem cells from countries where they are legally produced. This was a hot topic of discussion for months. The German Chancellor appointed a national board of ethics which is to prepare the pending decisions of German lawmakers. Natural scientists, jurists, theologians and politicians sit on this board of ethically wise men. Now the board has taken its vote. 14 of the 25 members voted for the importation of stem cells. It is to be limited to 3 years; after that the lawmakers are to review the results of the research and decide anew. The cells can be taken only from embryos that are leftover from artificial fertilization and are no longer considered for transferal into a uterus. A minority number of the board pled the case that the importation of cells collides with the embryo protection law in force and that alternative sources of stem cells, which do not require the killing of embryos, have not yet been sufficiently examined by the scientists. 

The German Parliament is to make a decision at the beginning of next year. It had appointed its own board, the majority of which, by the way, had spoken out not for, but against, the import of stem cells.

One can imagine how the decision of the German lawmakers will turn out in the end. Importation will be permitted under certain conditions, whose verification is hardly certain. The demands of medical need will be used to appeal for this, even though the alternatives have not even been checked out. And the scientists will again talk about basic research, even though no one knows what exactly they mean by this. They will refer to the basic right of freedom to do research. The dignity of man and the inviolability of life will be dismissed with the comment that they are dealing with stem cells from embryos and not with life.

The one who deals with embryos is not dealing merely with molecules and cells, but with the divine stream of life, over which man has no authority. He is dealing with the developing body of a soul, which is already taking up contact with it, in order to finally incarnate at the time of birth. The one who throws embryos away cuts off for this soul the possibility of its foreseen incarnation, similarly as with an abortion. This means that for this reason he exercises authority over something for which he does not have the authority. He prevents the soul from further spiritually growing and maturing in a human body, in that it recognizes as a human being a part of its spiritual burdens and discarding them with the help of God. Through this, he causes a suffering that, according to the law of cause and effect, will sooner or later fall back on him. 

A person who believes that perfect health, as worthy as it is to strive for, is the highest goal in life, ignores inter-relationships that go beyond a life on Earth: He precludes the fact that a soul may consciously take on a heavy fate - many parents of handicapped children have not regretted that they took on a difficult task and even report that they experienced a spiritual enrichment of their life. And the one who thinks that he has a "right" to healthy children and can therefore have "damaged goods" tested and destroyed beforehand is a megalomaniac, for he puts himself in the place of God. With this, consciously or unconsciously, he encourages a future breeding of human beings. 

back to main news page