The news out of London the other day was pretty shocking, and I’m surprised it didn’t get more play:

Plans to allow British scientists to create human-animal embryos are expected to be approved tomorrow by the government’s fertility regulator. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority published its long-awaited public consultation on the controversial research yesterday, revealing that a majority of people were “at ease” with scientists creating the hybrid embryos.

Researchers want to create hybrid embryos by merging human cells with animal eggs, in the hope they will be able to extract valuable embryonic stem cells from them. The cells form the basic building blocks of the body and are expected to pave the way for revolutionary therapies for diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and even spinal cord injuries.

The consultation papers were released ahead of the authority’s final decision on the matter, which will mark the end of almost a year of intense lobbying by scientists and a fervent campaign by organisations opposed to research involving embryonic stem cells.

Using animal eggs will allow researchers to push ahead unhindered by the shortage of human eggs. Under existing laws, the embryos must be destroyed after 14 days when they are no bigger than a pinhead, and cannot be implanted into the womb.

Opponents of the research and some religious groups say the work blurs the distinction between humans and animals, and creates embryos that are destined to be destroyed when stem cells are extracted from them.

Today, the Vatican weighed in. Not surprisingly, it doesn’t approve:

The president of the Pontifical Academy for Life has said that the British decision to approve creation of “hybrid” human-animal embryos is “a monstrous act against human dignity.”

Speaking to a Vatican Radio audience, Bishop Elio Sgreccia said the British government had “crumbled with confronted by requests from a group of immoral scientists.” The government had backed away from plans to outlaw the research on hybrid embryos under heavy pressure from researchers.

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

Photo: from the film “The Island of Dr. Moreau” (1996)