Anyone even remotely literate on these things has to enjoy the remarkable hypocrisy coming from the catholic church on the Obama administration's recent approval of embryonic stem cell research.  It would be hilarious if it didn't involve people suffering from terrible diseases.

Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' committee on pro-life activities, called Obama's decision "a sad victory of politics over science and ethics."

"This action is morally wrong because it encourages the destruction of innocent human life, treating vulnerable human beings as mere products to be harvested," he added.

I understand that the cardinal in question probably doesn't have an actual degree in anything non-divinity related, but give me a fucking break.  The degree of ignorance of what stem cell research actually entails is breathtaking.  An egg cell in a freezer is pretty far away from anything most of us recognize as a "vulnerable human being."  Especially when one considers that said egg cell is going to be destroyed by the fertility clinic anyway.  Apparently it is better to pointlessly destroy it, than to do so with an aim to helping ease suffering.  This is apparently what the church's definition of "ethics" has become.

An article in the Vatican newspaper on Tuesday said "a real democracy" should be founded on protection of human dignity in every phase of its existence.

Pardon me, I have to sneeze.  Oh shit!  I just shed a few hundred epithelial cells from my nasal linings!  I'm a murderer and unfit to participate in a "real democracy."  Why don't people think before they speak.

Monsignor Elio Sgreccia, a leading Vatican bioethics specialist, told Italian media: "The motive for this decision should be seen in the pressure for profits."

Yeah!  Fuck you, terminally ill people.  We obviously are not interested in helping you.  All we care about is the LOOT!!!!

In 2001, the late Pope John Paul II urged Bush not to allow stem cell research.

Research that could eventually cure Parkinson's...

Father Thomas J. Reese, senior fellow at the Woodstock Theological Centre of Georgetown University, suggested several ways the Obama administration could find some middle ground.

Reese's suggestions include not creating embryos for the sole purpose of research but instead using only excess embryos produced at fertility clinics that are scheduled to be destroyed anyway.

He also said researchers should show that the research they are doing cannot be done with non-embryonic stem cells, and that research using embryonic stem cells should aim at advancing towards the goal of using only non-embryonic stem cells.

Someone please explain why I should give a crap about what a priest thinks about bioethics.  Might I humbly suggest that the good Father stick to subjects in his wheel house...like tacitly endorsing child rape

(Editors Note:  I know that the religion postings tend to bring out the Bible Zombies in the comments section.  So be it.  This kind of garbage is too remarkable to avoid comment.  I also know that the swearing has been a tad more plentiful recently, and I agree that it is lazy).