Comments of Archbishop Diarmuid Martin on the Report of the Commission on Assisted Human Reproduction

12 May 2005

PRESS RELEASE

12 MAY 2005

COMMENTS OF ARCHBISHOP DIARMUID MARTIN

ON THE REPORT OF THE COMMISSION ON ASSISTED HUMAN REPRODUCTION

A preliminary consideration of the Report of the Commission on Assisted Human
Reproduction gives rise to concerns, as some of the recommendations seem to be
in conflict with the guiding principles of Catholic teaching. Those principles
stress that marriage, that intimate union between a man and a woman, is the
natural institution to which the transmission of life is exclusively entrusted
and that human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment
of conception.

A more complete response will be made to the Report when it has been studied
fully and the Church will participate in the public debate that needs to take
place concerning the serious issues raised by the Commission.

ends
12 May 2005

Annette O Donnell
Communications Office
Archbishop’s House
Dublin 9
Ireland
Telephone: (01) 836 0723
Facsimile: (01) 836 0793