The Pre-Implantation Embryo

In his statement today to the Pontifical Academy for Life (at this conference), Pope Benedict:

reaffirmed Catholic teaching that life begins at the moment of conception, saying embryos are "sacred and inviolable" even before they become implanted in a mother's uterus. . . .

By making such a defense of life, the Pope appeared to be trying to cut short any debate that the period between conception and implantation could be seen as a time for legitimate experimentation or manipulation on embryos.

Rob