The human race has achieved so much in science and technology that I fear that intellectually and emotionally we can no longer cope with our new world.George Pell wants to stop stem cell research on ethical grounds,yet he his just fighting the inevitable eventual manipulation of our genetics that will improve our race.

Genetics now is a random and cruel science that throws up a great diversity to cope with possible environmental change and many of now already get the short end of the gene stick and have to suffer a less than optimum life.With careful and regulated science,we can make millions of lives a lot better.

If there be re-incarnation and the body be the vehicle for the soul,wouldn't you want to come back to a better vehicle?

Well, while this conversation seems to be a silent monologue of mutual ageement,there is another important reality to consider.In my parents generation they had many children of which some died because of genetic problems.Today we save children with all manner of genetic problems and preserve them at all cost.Survival of the fittest does not apply.

Saving babies at all cost does not make for a genetically strong society.We either have scientific intervention or suffer devolution.

It says in the Bible that when God say humanity building the Tower of Babel,he grew fearful that humanity would challenge him & sought to stifle its development.

Genetic Engineering & IT are our new, bigger & better Tower(s) of Babel.And Gods representative have grown fearful -& are trying it on again.

But alas, it will do little to affect the outcome.
The dye has already been cast & some or other stream of humanity will run with it.And It will ultimately take us to the heavens & beyond.

“Come Cardinals and Mullahs
Throughout the land
And don't criticize
What you can't understand
Your parishioners
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin'.
Please get out of the new one
If you can't lend your hand
For the times they are a-changing”

Its terrible that in the 21st Century Dark age cults still have a voice. Who cares what George Pell thinks. If his followers dont want the beneifits of stem cell research then its their choice.

Pell has demonstrated the immorality of his position. What he proposes is to spread suffering and death because to the game rules of his ignorance based superstition saving life and curing disease is unethical.

Pell and his croneys must go back to the Bible or Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter or what ever their hysteria arises from and leave the running of the real world to those who live in the real world.

The babies you refer to who are born with "genetic" defects are often deformed in some way from exposure to the very chemicals that science has provided for the "benefit" of humans.

Remember the use of chloroform to anaethetise patients? Ah now that was a breakthrough, wasn't it? Except scientists omitted to advise that chloroform is a particularly dangerous carcinogen.

What about all the breakthroughs to eradicate anything that moved - more "scientific" wonders.

Of course, many humans exposed to these silver bullets, particularly pregnant women, developed a "faulty" gene where embryos and their children's children were affected thus creating deformities or genetic malformations and conditions - along with miscarriages and still-births.

I recall the Australian scientific "wonder" of thalidomide for pregnant women, to prevent morning sickness, resulting in deformities in their offspring.

Many of these chemicals, invented by scientists, now remain in the environment, bioaccumulating and impossible to destroy, where they continue to kill off humans.

Cancers have increased along with scientific developments.

I speak not from any religious convictions, however, let's take things easy, proceed with caution, and not get too excited about the offers on hand to cure the defects in humans, many already created by scientific "breakthroughs."

Some science initiatives have been wonderfully beneficial to humans, others horrendous!

Let's get it right on genetic engineering or we will again suffer the consequences of a science gone mad!

It is only arrogrance that allows man to think that the clay can tell the potter how things should be. I am not sure if God is laughing at such fools or crying.