Via The Corner, the US Bishops have issued a statement on The Kass Commission report , found here, taking the Commission to task for even tentatively approving any toying with any human embryos at any stage.

Ramesh Ponnuru questions the wisdom

In the interests of charity, let’s come up with an argument for the bishops’ position that they themselves do not articulate. Perhaps they are worried that the council’s proposals will undercut the momentum for more sweeping alternatives that they favor. But that clearly cannot be their reason for coming out against the date-certain proposal: Nobody has a stronger alternative. Nor is there strong momentum behind a stronger and better ban on human cloning.

The whole thing strikes me as a failure of political judgment.