By C.S. Prakash
AgBioView
Please see below the complete text of the statement on genetic engineering in agriculture from Cardinal Sin, the powerful Archbishop of Manila in Philippines. A recent news item from the Philippine Daily Inquirer (see below) has selectively quoted as saying that Cardinal Sin, is against the use of biotechnology in agriculture. Cardinal Sin is among the most influential of Roman Catholic Cardinals as he also chairs the most Vatican Committees, and were it not for his failing health, he was considered by many to become the first Asian Pope.
The statement below from Cardinal Sin shows that while he advocates caution in the use of biotechnology in agriculture, he readily acknowledges that science "is a significant expression of man's dominion over creation", and "A concrete case that needs examination is genetic engineering applied to agricultural products. Along with the noble desire to combat hunger, poverty and disease in developing and applying such technology, scientists have the task of protecting the rest of creation from all possible harms that ensue".
Statement from the Pope on November 11, 2000: "This is a principle to be remembered in agricultural production itself, whenever there is a question of its advance through the application of biotechnologies, which cannot be evaluated solely on the basis of immediate economic interests. They must be submitted beforehand to rigorous scientific and ethical examination, to prevent them from becoming disastrous for human health and the future of the earth." (See the complete text of Holy Father's speech below and an earlier statement from the Pontifical Academy).
It must be recognized here that biotechnologically-enhanced foods are the most tested food ever, and have been subjected to more scientific scrutiny than any food in the history. The regulatory process that oversees the safety of biotech products on a case-by-case basis, high consensus of the scientific community on the biosafety issues, and the history of the safe use of the biotechnology products overwhelming addresses the concerns expressed above.
I had detailed discussion with Bishop Jesse Varela and Rev. Father Noli Alparce of Sorsogon, Philippines (who provided me the pastoral statement that appears below); and both concur that biotechnology can help advance the food security in developing countries and also help in poverty alleviation. While both expressed some reservation against the dominant use of this technology by the private sector and also advocate prudence on biosafety issues, they advised me that the Catholic Church is not opposed to the use of biotechnology in agriculture and it clearly recognizes its potential benefits in impacting the humanity. Father Alparce, a highly recognized social activist in Philippines (an ex-journalist and political aide) addressed a gathering of agricultural experts on June 13 in Manila where he advocated the continued development of agricultural biotechnology to address the problems of poor farmers, and assured that therer was no incongruence in the use of this technology with the Church's beliefs.
One can thus see that overall the Church has a cautious but supportive position on agricultural biotechnology (despite the misquotes and 'out of context' quotes by the media reports and activists), and is the position what most agricultural scientists and policy makers embrace - move forward with the technology but with adequate safeguards.
I thank Mr. Miguel R. Unson of the Senate of the Philippines for his help in the transcription of the Cardinal Sin text. As the Pope's speech in November 2000 is also being selectively misquoted in the press, I reproduce below that speech along with an earlier Piero Morandini's analysis of the comments of the Holy Father (from Agbioview on Dec 2, 2000).
- C. S. Prakash
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