The church has long opposed embryonic stem cell research, and has campaigned
against any medical procedure or research technique that harms human embryos or
fetuses.
But the threat of individual excommunication — the most serious punishment meted
out by the church — was previously directed at women and medical personnel who
participated in abortions. Cardinal Trujillo's stand would broaden the use of that
sanction to biomedical researchers who use embryos.