Pope speaks out against human progress

[Gundampilotspaz]

Pope speaks out against "designer babies"

ROME (Reuters) - Pope Benedict on Saturday condemned genetic engineering and other scientific practices that allow people to select so-called "designer babies" by screening them for defects.

In a speech to the Pontifical Academy for Life, a Church body of experts, the Pope also attacked artificial insemination and the widespread use of medical tests that can detect diseases and inherited disorders in embryos.

"In developed countries, there is a growing interest for the most sophisticated biotechnological research to introduce subtle and extensive eugenics methods in the obsessive search for the 'perfect child'," the Pope said.

He said the right to life was increasingly under attack in the world, citing pressures to legalize abortion in Latin America, and euthanasia in the richest countries.

He also spoke out against civil unions as an alternative to marriage, his latest criticism of a bill approved this month by the Italian government granting rights to unwed and gay couples.

Turning that bill into law now appears a more remote possibility, as it was dropped from a government program submitted by Romano Prodi to his allies to allow him to stay on as prime minister and end the latest political crisis.

Source http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews....POPE-BABIES.xml

This kind of garbage is what stands in the way of human progress. It halted our progress during the middle ages (poor Galileo) and they are attempting to do the same in modern times.

Hopefully the ignorant masses won't fall for it this time, but I have very little hope in humanity.

Repost from: http://tan-staafl.blogspot.com/2007/02/pop...ner-babies.html

[Poophy]

So, even if we know that I child will be born crippled or retarded we should force it to be born? Honestly I cant give a real opinion on the over all happiness of crippled or retarded people, not being one. But assuming it isn’t very fun, might it be considered merciful to just not have them born?

[Satan]

So, even if we know that I child will be born crippled or retarded we should force it to be born? Honestly I cant give a real opinion on the over all happiness of crippled or retarded people, not being one. But assuming it isn’t very fun, might it be considered merciful to just not have them born?

well, not being Jewish Hitler couldn't couldn't give a real opinion on the over all happiness of Jewish people. but might it be considered merciful that he didn't let them live?

Just pointing out how close the arguments can be.

[Gundampilotspaz]

well, not being Jewish Hitler couldn't couldn't give a real opinion on the over all happiness of Jewish people. but might it be considered merciful that he didn't let them live?

Just pointing out how close the arguments can be.

That doesn't make any sense.

Completely different.

Besides this isn't about abortion, this is about genetically altering your child's DNA to prevent defects.

[Satan]

That doesn't make any sense.

Completely different.

Besides this isn't about abortion, this is about genetically altering your child's DNA to prevent defects.

you are correct that this isn't about abortion, but the logic I used was the same as poophy's

groupX is better off not being alive, so we are justified in taking measures to prevent it.

[Gundampilotspaz]

you are correct that this isn't about abortion, but the logic I used was the same as poophy's

groupX is better off not being alive, so we are justified in taking measures to prevent it.

They are called birth defects for a reason.

[Satan]

They are called birth defects for a reason.

Anything can be called defective. If I view blacks or jews as defective, am I justified in delivering them from existance?

[JeremyGEE]

Anything can be called defective. If I view blacks or jews as defective, am I justified in delivering them from existance?

THATS CALLED FUCKING RACISM. NO justification whatsoever.

[Siendra]

Popes: Hey. We've actively been involved in some of the bloodiest disputes known to man kind, condemned Africa to years of hell by way of AIDS, and now we've got our eyes set on personal freedoms of people who don't even recognize us as a seat of power!

Gosh. Religion is so awesome.

[Nega-Brent]

Popes: Hey. We've actively been involved in some of the bloodiest disputes known to man kind, condemned Africa to years of hell by way of AIDS, and now we've got our eyes set on personal freedoms of people who don't even recognize us as a seat of power!

Gosh. Religion is so awesome.

One must remember that the Pope use to be the ruler of a good portion of the world and in some parts of the world is still considered to be God's second in command.

[Samurai Drifter]

One must remember that the Pope use to be the ruler of a good portion of the world and in some parts of the world is still considered to be God's second in command.

Those parts include, of course, a large percentage of the United States.

[Chris C]

Hey, what if I consider my child having brown hair and green eyes a birth defect?

[Crube]

Gosh. Religion is so awesome.

We really need this smilie. Anyway, why does this topic remind me of Gattaca? And comparing Galileos discovery to something like human DNA tampering is complete rubbish.

[Nega-Brent]

Hey, what if I consider my child having brown hair and green eyes a birth defect?

I would consider the children of anyone on this board a defect in humanity.

[The Lone Magician]

Do you think that if we continue to genetically engineer babies, they'll become some deranged fashion statement?

[Nega-Brent]

Do you think that if we continue to genetically engineer babies, they'll become some deranged fashion statement?

Adopted African Babies

Celebrity Babies

What makes you think they aren't already?

[The Lone Magician]

Adopted African Babies

Celebrity Babies

What makes you think they aren't already?

I meant like they have the really expensive babies, and then the cheap knock-off babies that rip after about three months. But yeah, good point.

[Nega-Brent]

I meant like they have the really expensive babies, and then the cheap knock-off babies that rip after about three months. But yeah, good point.

I'm sure a plane ticket to Africa and the bill for a Publicist who thinks a baby will help your image aren't cheap.

[Satan]

Popes: Hey. We've actively been involved in some of the bloodiest disputes known to man kind, condemned Africa to years of hell by way of AIDS, and now we've got our eyes set on personal freedoms of people who don't even recognize us as a seat of power!

Gosh. Religion is so awesome.

1) the pope isn't imposing his views on anyone. One accepts Catholicism, but there is no real penalty for leaving (except possibly hell, but few people believe they will go to hell and leave anyway) He may urge people to follow a certain set of morals and to vote based on them, but its not as if the Pope gets to vote in the electoral college or Catholic votes count extra or anything.

2) Again, the pope doesn't impose AIDS on Africa. Yes, encouraging condom distribution would be helpful, but they're hypocrites if they claim to follow Catholic teachings and still have sex outside of marriage. Not that they deserve AIDS, but its not as if the Pope comes down and says "Africans will have AIDS!" and they magically do.

3) compared to Germany, the Soviet Union, and the great US bombings (Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Tokyo, and Dresden come to mind) the Pope's hands are quite clean, especially in the past few centuries.

Those parts include, of course, a large percentage of the United States.

not too large a percentage. There's a reason its WASP not WASC, Catholicism isn't the majority. The number of Catholics is not insignificant, but as a percentage of Americans, the number who are so Catholic they follow the pope blindly and completely is quite small.

[Kreutz]

The Pope is against humans playing God with His creations? Excuse me if I'm not exactly shocked at that notion. If you guys want your blond-haired, blue-eyed überbabies that's fine with me, but I imagine messing with the natural process of reproduction, not to mention circumventing evolution (if you believe it it, which I don't) will have repercussions in the future. At the very least the science of 'designer babies' should be approached with trepidation.

[Nega-Brent]

The Pope is against humans playing God with His creations? Excuse me if I'm not exactly shocked at that notion. If you guys want your blond-haired, blue-eyed überbabies that's fine with me, but I imagine messing with the natural process of reproduction, not to mention circumventing evolution (if you believe it it, which I don't) will have repercussions in the future. At the very least the science of 'designer babies' should be approached with trepidation.

"Playing God" is such a funny term people who are against advancements in science toss around a lot. Saving someone's life with modern medicine is playing God, since fate/God wanted them to die.

[Gundampilotspaz]

At the very least the science of 'designer babies' should be approached with trepidation.

I'm sure you'd be saying the same thing about Astronomy if you lived during the time of Galileo.

[ROCKSTEADY]

should we really be creating more life anyway? The way i see it, we should slow the population growth a little bit.

[Nega-Brent]

should we really be creating more life anyway? The way i see it, we should slow the population growth a little bit.

Right, we'll let you be the messenger when the government decides only certain people can procreate.

[margot]

It seems dangerous somehow. In China gender based abortions are rampant and very soon it's going to cause huge, huge problems.