CINCINNATI (AP) — The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati is criticizing a new Procter & Gamble Co. research policy that does not ban use of stem cells from human embryos.
The archdiocese's newspaper published a statement from Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk on the policy, which went into effect in October.
Pilarczyk said the apparent decision to use embryos to develop "products judged useful by the company" is "a misuse of human life — no matter how praiseworthy its intent might be."
The church does not object to research on stem cells from consenting adults but believes using embryo or fetal tissue is morally wrong.
P&G does not currently use human embryo cells and has no plans to do so, but its new policy does not rule out their use, a company spokesman said.
Stem cells form in the first days of embryonic development and later differentiate into the many types of cells needed to form organs and other tissues. The unspecialized stem cells are also are found in some adult tissues, though recent Stanford University research questions their usefulness for therapy.
Researchers hope stem cells from eggs fertilized in laboratories might someday repair damaged organs and cure chronic diseases.