|
February 6, 2001 Cardinal Danneels, Conference Speakers Call For Larger Role of Faith Communities in Fostering Dialogue of Genetic Science Washington D.C. ----- Expressing hope and confidence in responsible scholarship and scientific research, Godfried Cardinal Danneels told eighty members of FADICA that Catholic universities can play a major role in fostering interdisciplinary dialog in the brave new world of genetic research. "University faculties have to make time for this," Cardinal Danneels told an audience of over eighty private foundation representatives. "More and more," the Cardinal said, "the challenging questions of science are not about how to achieve things, but rather should they be done?" Cardinal Danneels’ presentation formed part of a January 26-27 conference held in Palm Beach, Florida entitled: A Matter of Life: Human Dignity, Religious Ethics and the New Frontier of Genetic Science. The meeting briefed grant-making foundations on the latest advances in genetic science and illustrated areas where philanthropy could encourage the interplay of scientists, ethicists and faith communities. Dr. Audrey Chapman, Director of the Dialogue on Science, Ethics and Religion in the American Association for the Advancement of Science, told FADICA that as science and technology confer powers of life and death far beyond those of previous generations, "society seems singularly incapable of reflecting upon and engaging in shared moral reasoning about these discoveries". "We have lost the ability to engage in meaningful corporate moral discourse," Dr. Chapman said. The author of numerous books on faith and science called religious communities to play a more consequential role as society grapples with the choices and dilemmas arising from the genetic revolution. Dr. Chapman invited Catholic foundations to sponsor more dialogues between science and religion, and improve the education of parish clergy and lay leaders on genetic research. "Increasingly people will be turning to clergy," Dr. Chapman said "asking such questions as do we have an obligation to know our genetic constitution and to share such information with other members of our families?" she remarked. Several of the program speakers said that the religious community must do far more to help science and everyday people understand the ethical issues at stake in genetic research. "There is a dearth of Catholic writing on these topics, " Bishop Pierre DuMaine of San Jose asserted. The retired bishop, who now lectures at Stanford University, said the rich tradition of moral reasoning had much to offer a society whose moral vocabulary he lamented is both "impoverished and utilitarian". Both the bishop and co-panelist, Dr. Cathleen Kaveny of the University of Notre Dame, invited Catholic institutions to play a more expanded and energetic role in fostering discussions on genetics and the future of medicine. Conferees called for specific measures to improve the ability of the faith community to exercise a constructive influence on scientific research. These included the use of competitive honors similar to the Nobel and Templeton Prizes, sponsorship of conferences and faculty institutes, research fellowships, developing medical school ethics curricula, publishing activities, and network building, among other measures. Those addressing the foundation audience included senior representatives of the Templeton Foundation of Philadelphia, a sponsor of programs linking religion and science. Also taking part were leaders from Americans United for Life, the National Catholic Office for Persons with Disabilities, and the International Anti-Euthanasia Task Force. An edited transcript of the conference will be available in the coming weeks. FADICA is a consortium of forty-seven private foundations with interests in Catholic-sponsored programs and institutions. |