Join John Paul II in prayer AUGUST General: That respect for the environment, '30d's gift to all men and women. may ncrease both on a personal level and on .rlat of world public opinion. Missionary: That in the vast shanty towns Jf the world the efforts of missionaries may -illeviate the suffering caused by injustice Ind foster the full clevoloprnont nf o-ncn w'10 !ye with thpm
FOR A GREAT DEAL
TEL: 9449 9000
ACCESSORIES, SERVICE, FINANCE OR ANY MAKE OF QUALITY USED CAR.
432 SCARBOROL GH BEACH RD OSBORNE PARK. DL 01191
3
WA's only Catholic weekly newspaper Perth: August 22 2002 Price: $1
CONVERSION Does Mel believe? STORY: Hope in SIGNS movie tragedy review Page 4 Page 14
, lilleined , .
Blueprint begins at conception, say scientists
A human embryo
By Victor Reklaitis
HONDA
HONDA, NORTH ON A NEW PARTS,
"The latest advances in embryology tend to confirm what the Catholic Church has said all along."
WASHINGTON (CNS) - The blueprint for the human body is being defined in the first few hours after conception, according to a report on recent advances in embryology in tureless 01.1) of cells. and that the cells Nature magazine. 'Where your head and feet would were only assigned specific roles sprout, and which side would form between the sixth and ninth days of your back and which your belly, were development, at about the time of i being defined in the minutes and mplantation into the uterine wall. Now, one research team at the Wellhours after egg and sperm united: come Trust/Cancer Research UK said the report in the July 8 issue of Institute has provided evidence' that the British magazine. even the point where the sperm The latest advances in embryology enters the egg influences the fate of tend to confirm what the Catholic each cell. The sperm's entry point Church has said all along: said determines where the first cell diviRichard Doerflinger, deputy director sion will take place and the resulting of the US Conference of Catholic Bish- cells have a bias toward certain roles, ops Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities. according to the team's leader, Mag'Human life is a continuum from con- dalena Zernicka-Goetz. ception onward." In another study, Richard Gardner Until about five years ago, according of Oxford University found that the to the report, many scientists said that four- to five-day old mammalian the early human embryo was a lea- embryo is not a symmetrical sphere
but instead has an identifiable headtail axis that corresponds to that of the fetus. Gardner first published his results five years ago, but other scientists were initially hostile to his conclusions and have only recently accepted them, Nature reported. The evidence for patterning information in the early human embryo provided by Gardner and ZernickaGoetz has led some scientists to reconsider practices that meddle with early development, said the report. For example, to test for inherited diseases, cells can be removed from an eight-cell embryo. One scientist said that it is possible this technique might be removing a cell with a predictable fate and causing damage. 'What is clear is that developmental biologists will no longer dismiss early mammalian embryos as featureless bundles of cells: said the report. 'and that leaves them with some work to do.' Edftorkd - Page 7
Pell stands down, denies allegations Catholics and others across ly George Pell's denial," Mr Australia were shocked by Howard said. the news on Monday In his statement to the evening that Archbishop media Archbishop Pell said: George Pell of Sydney is fac"Certain allegations have ing sex abuse allegations. been made about my conArchbishop Pell told media duct whenI was a seminarion Monday afternoon that an over 40 years ago. "for the good of the Church "lime allegations against me and to preserve the dignity of are lies andIdeny them totalthe office of Archbishop" he ly and utterly. would stand down until the "The alleged events never conclusion of a Church happened. I repeat, emphatInquiry ically, that the allegations are Archbishop Pell totally false. denied the allegations that as "An independent inquiry to a seminarian in the early Investigate these allegations 1960s he sexually molested has been set up by Archan unnamed male com- bishop Philip Wilson, Acting plainant who was aged 12. Co-Chairman of the Nation"I truly wish I could say al Committee for ProfessionStandards, which more right now," he told the al media. supervises the Church's "However, it is important Towards Healing' protocols. that! do not say anything that The inquiry will be conductcould be seen to prejudice ed.Iunderstand, by a retired the inquiry Therefore. I am Victorian Supreme Court unable to make further com- judge. "Iwill, of course, co-operate ment" On Tuesday Prime Minis- with this independent ter John Howard said he inquiry in every way possibelieved the Archbishop and ble - frankly openly, and had phoned him to offer his unreservedly" Continued- Page 2 support "I believe complete-
Pope goes home to hero's welcome
Nuns sing and wave flags as they wait for the arrival of Pope John Paul 11 at the Sanctuary of Divine Merry in Krakow-Lagievmiki on August 17. The Pope brought a demanding spiritual and social message to his fellow Poles, who responded with their cheers, their smiles and their attention. See centre pages for full story. Photo CNS/Reuters