Church immorality is issue, not science

Pope Benedict recently called for the prohibition of artificial insemination outside of the body, adding it to the growing list of scientific practices the church says "shatter" human dignity.

Already on the list are freezing embryos, suppression of embryos in multiple pregnancies, embryonic stem cell research and the prospect of human cloning.

To the millions of infertile couples hanging their hope for biological children on artificial insemination, I say, "Welcome to my world."

I am one of millions of Americans living with a progressive, debilitating disease (e.g. Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, and diabetes), and hoping embryonic stem cell research will unlock a cure. The church would have us throw away the key.

Practicing "selective morality," this church now demanding respect for the human being as a person "from conception until natural death" is the same church that looked the other way when thousands of "weak" and "defenseless" altar boys needed protection from predatory pedophile priests.

It is the church and not science that has a history of immorality, torturing and killing those who repudiated its ideas. Ours is a nation of religious diversity and freedom, leaving no room for one group's narrow religious beliefs to dictate what we as a nation can do.

Sheryl Jedlinski

Palatine