Catholic church silently supports GMOs

Friday, January 28, 2011 by: Ethan A. Huff, staff writer
Tags: Catholic church, GMOs, health news

(NaturalNews) Yet another leaked report reveals the truth about the Vatican's real stance on genetically-modified organisms (GMO). For years, the "Holy See" has held a dubious stance on the issue, with its Pontifical Academy of Sciences having given GMOs preliminary approval in 2000 while its public communiques expressed opposition. But a new cable exposes the Vatican's secret approval of "Frankenfoods," dismantling the Vatican-promoted illusion of neutrality on the issue.

"Recent conversations between the Holy See officials and USAID ... confirmed the cautious acceptance of biotech food by the Holy See," wrote Christopher Sandrolini, a U.S. diplomat to the Holy See, in an August 26, 2005, cable. The same cable explains that the Vatican has never really been concerned about the safety of GMOs, and its only concern is that "these technologies are going to make developing world farmers more dependent on others, and simply serve to enrich multinational corporations."

Again in 2009, another leaked cable states that "Vatican officials remain largely supportive of genetically-modified crops," referring to Pope Benedict's November 16, 2009, speech at the World Food Security Summit. At this event, Benedict expressed support for global "development," which Monsignor James Reinert from the Vatican Council for Justice and Peace said was "a small but significant step towards more vocal Vatican support of biotechnologies."

In December 2010, NaturalNews covered a leaked report from June 2009 that revealed the Pope Benedict's personal support for GMOs (https://www.naturalnews.com/030807_the_Pope_G...). The report is linked to the one in November, both of which emphasize overall support for GMOs by the Vatican and its scientific academy.

The Holy See is slowly trying to convince both the general public and GMO opponents within its ranks, such as outspoken bishops, to embrace the technology. This agenda clearly defines the Vatican's role in working to cement a relationship between governments and commerce in order to propagate GMO technologies around the world.

Sources for this story include:

http://gmo-journal.com/index.php/2011/01/14/...