The Vatican has just issued an Instruction on Biomedical Research titled, “Regarding the Instruction Dignitas Personae.” A summary has been prepared by the Vatican. The statement was issued by the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith which was formally headed by Pope Benedict XVI before he became Pope.
The Instruction seeks “both to contribute to the formation of conscience and to encourage biomedical research respectful of the dignity of every human being and of procreation.”
The statement is divided into three sections. The first covers basic anthropological, theological and ethical elements including the importance of respect for the human person and also the importance of situating the origin of human life within the context of marriage.
The second section addresses some of the new problems that have arisen in biomedical research. All of the issues deal specifically with procreation and with fertility treatments that are commonly available today.
The third section examines new genetic treatments including gene therapy, human cloning, stem cells, and others.
The statement does not break new ground in theological development. What it does do, however, is apply basic theological tenets to very specific medical treatments in use today so that readers can understand the implications of these treatments.
