by William Keeler

About the author: Cardinal William Keeler is archbishop of Baltimore and a member of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops Pro-Life Activities Committee.

The sanctity and dignity of human life is a cornerstone of Catholic moral reflection and social teaching. We believe a society can be judged by the respect it shows for human life, especially in its most vulnerable stages and conditions.

On this basis the Catholic Church strongly opposes the taking of human life through abortion, euthanasia or destructive experiments on human embryos.

Making Procreation into Manufacture

At first glance, human cloning may not seem to belong on this list. It is presented as a means for creating life, not destroying it. Yet it shows disrespect toward human life in the very act of generating it. Cloning completely divorces human reproduction...