VATICAN CITY, 1 DEC 2010 (VIS) - Given below is the English-language text of a declaration made by Holy See Press Office Director Fr. Federico Lombardi S.J. in response to questions about the final declaration of a study week sponsored by the Pontifical Academy of Sciences on the subject: "Transgenic Plants for Food Security in the Context of Development":
"The study week took place at the headquarters of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences from 15 to 19 May 2009, with the participation of forty scholars, seven of whom are Pontifical Academicians (out of a total of eighty), including the late president, Professor Nicola Cabibbo. The other participants were outside experts.
"The final statement, now published by Elsevier in the Acts of the Study Week, was signed by the participants and thus has the value of their academic authority.
"However, the statement must not be considered as a statement of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, which has eighty members, because the academy, as such, has never been consulted about it nor is such a consultation planned.
"Furthermore, the statement cannot be considered as an official position of the Holy See or of the Magisterium of the Church on the topic".
OP/ VIS 20101201 (210)
"The study week took place at the headquarters of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences from 15 to 19 May 2009, with the participation of forty scholars, seven of whom are Pontifical Academicians (out of a total of eighty), including the late president, Professor Nicola Cabibbo. The other participants were outside experts.
"The final statement, now published by Elsevier in the Acts of the Study Week, was signed by the participants and thus has the value of their academic authority.
"However, the statement must not be considered as a statement of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, which has eighty members, because the academy, as such, has never been consulted about it nor is such a consultation planned.
"Furthermore, the statement cannot be considered as an official position of the Holy See or of the Magisterium of the Church on the topic".
OP/ VIS 20101201 (210)
This was a swift counter issued from the Vatican Press Office to a privately published document, which came out, interestingly, on the day that the United States senate passed a bill which appears to give Monsanto increased power to control American farming. There is an interesting commentary on that conference in May, 2009, which further research has confirmed: the research was heavily stacked towards the pro-GMO position and Monsanto stood to benefit greatly by the conference and the former vicar general of the Legion of Christ, Fr. Luis Garza, has strong family ties to Monsanto; his personal fortune is vast, possibly because of the monopoly of the GMOs . http://www.unitypublishing.com/Government/GMO.htm
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