Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk: Each conceived human being should have the right to life by law

At a request of Ms. E. Gracheva, presenter of the Church and the World program, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk commented on the discussion held in the Church on the need to provide by law the right of unborn children.This topic was discussed in particular at the plenary session of the Inter-Council Presence of the Russian Orthodox Church held in May 26-28 in Moscow. It adopted a draft document “On the Immunity of the life of a human being since the conception”. A paper on this theme was presented to the plenary session by Metropolitan Hilarion. Later on, the draft will be submitted to the Bishops’ Council.

“This discussion proceeds from our recognition that that an embryo, that is, a human foetus, has the same rights that we recognize as possessed by a born human being”, he stated during the broadcast, “We insist that the notion of human rights should be applied to embryos as well. Accordingly, we believe as inadmissible the manipulations with embryos and the use of embryos as biomaterial”. He also emphasized that the life of a human foetus should be protected by law, “Our task it to give the opportunity to be born to those who have a full right to it”.

Source: patriarchia.ru