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Monday, February 23, 2009

Pope Warns Of New Type Of Eugenics Based On Perfection And Physical Beauty




VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Benedict said on Saturday there were worrying signs of a new type of eugenics based on perfection and physical beauty.

"Certainly, the eugenistic and racial ideologies that in the past humiliated man and provoked immense suffering are not being proposed again, but a new mentality is creeping in that tends to justify a different consideration of life and personal dignity," the pope said in a speech to the Pontifical Academy for Life.

"So it tends to privilege the capacity to operate, efficiency, perfection and physical beauty at the expense of other types of existence considered unworthy."

Eugenics is a belief in the possibility of improving the human race by weeding out those with what are considered undesirable traits and encouraging procreation by those with desirable traits.

The pope also spoke out against reducing humans to an object of "experimental manipulation" and allowing biotechnology to "surrender to the will of the strongest."

Pope Benedict has condemned genetic engineering and other scientific practices that allow people to select so-called "designer babies" by screening them for defects.

The Vatican considers pre-implantation diagnosis of embryos to avoid genetic defects or select for qualities like gender morally unacceptable. It is also against genetic enhancement for purposes other than medical treatment.

(Writing by Deepa Babington; editing by Robert Woodward)

2 comments:

ozjthomas said...

The problem with this is that it starts out seeming innocent enough, screening for retardation or painful lifelong debilitations, but then moves on to diabetes, depression, then onto the "designer" babies. This really scares me, because this is what the Holocaust was all about, and the reason I can't get behind the mental illness myth. That's where it all started, sterilizing and killing the mentally retarded and insane.

muzuzuzus said...

Wonder if the Pope also speaks out against the drugging of millions of children in schools. The ADHD Hoax, where kids are labeled with bogud disorders like ADHD, etc and drugged. That is same. And what is worrying is that some parents WANT that, because they are led to believe it is good for their child.

Same shit will be imposed on parents thinking designer child is right, etc

All we can do then is warn others . great article!