Religion & Law

It might be helpful, when evaluating the claims pressed by William Neaves in the piece to which Michael P. linked (here), to also read this, by Robby George and Patrick Lee, and this, by Wesley Smith.  Neaves is a longtime proponent of human cloning and embryo-destroying research, and was a prominent financial backer of Missouri's 2006 pro-cloning campaign.  I would have thought that the National Catholic Reporter could have found a not-so-obviously-in-the-tank-for-embryo-destructive-research thinker to suggest a critique of Dignitatis personae''s premises.  That said, obviously, as Neaves points out, there are different views out there about "personhood" and, just as obviously, one's views about "personhood" will shape one's claims and conclusions with respect to the matters and acts treated in Dignitatis personae.  And, obviously, some understandings will be less convenient for Big Biotech and those who serve (and profit from) it.