Science without Ethics "Out of Bounds," Says Vatican Official

(Nov.19,2008):- “Science without ethics is out of bounds”, said the President of the Pontifical Academy for Life, Archbishop Rino Fisichella. In an article published Nov. 18 by Vatican’s newspaper L’Osservatore Romano, the prelate said “science that is for the purpose of experimenting with human life without any ethics, lends itself to be suspect of being at the service of those in power, rather than for the good of humanity”. Archbishop Fisichella emphasized that human life “possesses a sacredness for Christians because it is first of all a mystery, from its beginnings until its end. In its very nature, the archbishop noted, it is beyond comprehension, and for this reason “it must be respected by all.” Just as states are capable of defending and promoting human life and of expressing an opinion on issues related to it, “in the same way, the freedom of the Church to express her own teaching cannot be limited by any scientist or scholar who thinks we should not talk about these issues,” Archbishop Fisichella stated. “If other people find their certainties in science, they will not find opposition in us,” he added. “We would like to respectfully remind them, he said, that science also does not have definitive certainties and that the mystery of human existence with its unavoidable questions about its meaning, is also valid for them. They don’t need to necessarily listen to the Catholic Church, but if they keep the door of their reason open, and give room to the force of reason, that is enough,” the archbishop explained.