Catholic Connection – September 11, 2023

Segment 2 & 3 – Scientists grow whole model of human embryo, without sperm or egg
“Scientists have grown an entity that closely resembles an early human embryo, without using sperm, eggs or a womb. The Weizmann Institute team say their “embryo model”, made using stem cells, looks like a textbook example of a real 14-day-old embryo. It even released hormones that turned a pregnancy test positive in the lab.”  Where is this going to lead?  Teresa interviews Fr. Tad.

Fr. Tadeusz Pacholczyk currently serves as Senior Ethicist at the NCBC. A priest of the Diocese of Fall River, Massachusetts, he has given several hundred presentations and participated in debates and roundtables on contemporary medical ethics and bioethics throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. Fr. Pacholczyk has degrees in philosophy, biochemistry, molecular cell biology, and chemistry. He later earned a PhD in neuroscience from Yale University, where he focused on cloning genes for neurotransmitter transporters which are expressed in the brain.

Segment 4 – PTC’s Screen Time Safety and Cyber Kindness Contract
According to one recent Pew Research Center survey, a majority of parents in the United States (66%) say that parenting is harder today than it was 20 years ago. Many cite technology as a reason why. The PTC has developed a “Screen Time Safety and Cyber Kindness Contract” that families can print, review together, and sign. The PTC is also recommending families schedule device-free time together each week.

Melissa Henson is a noted expert on entertainment industry trends and the impact of entertainment media on children and American culture at large. She is the Parents Television and Media Council’s Vice President.