The Bishop of Edinburgh, the Most Rev. Richard Holloway, has spoken out in favour of therapeutic cloning - the proposed use of cloned early embryos to grow new body tissues. He said he could see no ethical reason to oppose the creation of human organs and tissues, if the technology became available, reported the Daily Telegraph last week. 'Experiments are allowed in this country on embryos up to 14 days, and I don't see any ethical distinction between what already happens and what is being proposed' he added.
The bishop voiced his support for therapeutic cloning at a conference in Birmingham last week. He said he was aware that other churchmen would disagree. A spokesman for the Catholic Church said that there were no circumstances in which 'harvesting an embryo' could be accepted.
Bishop Holloway, 66, retires from his position as head of the Scottish Episcopal Church this autumn.
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