[friendly hardline atheist]

Hello Someday.

Originally Posted by Someday

Would it be better if I used another story that absolutely involves the Vatican's involvement in genetic manipulation? In fact, they are considering this alternative human embryonic stem cell research as a more moral approach. It is definitely genetic manipulation.

This doesn't do anything. That article is from 2005. How is a three year old article supposed to make me abandon my criticism against a position the Vatican adopted in 2008?

Originally Posted by Someday

Yes, it is likely some sort of propaganda. But to be fair, as you can see from this article, the Vatican approved of adult stem cell research while Clinton was still President. It isn't a new development at all. And they have been funding it for years, this isn't the first time they made donations in support of it. They have also come out in support of another way to harvest stem cells through amniotic stem cell research.

This came up earlier so let me repeat what I said there. If there are benefits from alternative methods, then by all means use them. But that is no argument for abandoning other research lines that offer prospects the alternative methods don't offer. Hawking the pro adult stem cell research position of the Vatican doesn't make them less of an impediment to science as far as embryonic stem cell research is concerned. It's merely diverting the attention from the area where they are an impediment, and you seem to be buying into it.

Originally Posted by Someday

This is still mixing human DNA with animals. The Vatican is clear it does not advocate mixing humans and animals at all. The Vatican is not against manipulating animal embryos, as long as it does not cause a negative reaction. For example, creating super mice with high intelligence is ok as long as they are not allowed out of the lab. Imagine these pests escaping and invading your home? Now we have a serious problem. Imagine someone doing this on purpose? That would be very wrong, don't you agree?

Now you're moving the goal posts. First you said the Catholic position was against mixing animal and human DNA. That wouldn't explain opposition to inserting human DNA into a cow cell from which the cow DNA has been removed. So now it's changed to mixing any human and animal issue. What's it going to be next time?
And you throw in some irrelevant scare hyping for a bit extra. I'm not impressed.

Originally Posted by Someday

This will create a cybrid 100% of the time. Keep in mind, the Vatican is always against the killing of viable human embryos, so even if it is a fully human embryo, they will be against it.

This referred to putting DNA from a human skin cell into a cow egg. And you know that that will always result in viable human embryo? You must be on your way to a Nobel prize then. Care to give us some greater insight into this breakthrough discovery?

Originally Posted by Someday

Just for the record on the Vaticans support of genetic manipulation, it may interest you to know that the Vatican has come out in favor of something the European community thinks is unethical genetic research. The Pope has come out in favor of genetic manipulation to create more food. This is genetic manipulation.

That is the only bit I found at least partly persuasive in your post. It doesn't take away the words of bishop Gianfranco Girotti condemning genetic manipulation without reservation. But contradictory statements by the Vatican are preferable to only a blanket condemnation of all genetic manipulation. I do appreciate that.

greets,
Peter