The Dignity of a Person (Dignitas Personae)
This Instruction from the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) provides guidance on how to respect human life and human procreation in our heavily scientific age. The Instruction occurs in three parts. The first part explains the Church's fundamental teaching on human life and procreation. The second part addresses new problems in procreation, including techniques for assisting fertility, freezing embryos, and preventing pregnancy. The third part covers new treatments involving the manipulation of the embryo or the human genetic patrimony. This section covers issues such as gene therapy, human cloning, and the therapeutic use of stem cells. Includes commentary on the Instruction, an address from Pope Benedict XVI on stem cells, select bibliography, and glossary. (Publ. 2009)