Some Clown Will Take This out of Context

The Holy father has told scientists, referring to stem-cell research,

"The destruction of even one human life can never be justified in terms of the benefit that it might conceivably bring to another."

One human life - Hitler's, Heydrich's, any enemy soldier's? Not what he meant, of course, but I am waiting for some clown to take this out of context, in order to justify pacifism. Perhaps it has been done already.

I wish he had said, or hope that he said,

"The destruction of even one innocent human life can never be justified in terms of the benefit that it might conceivably bring to another."

That I heartily and loyally accept. If His Holiness's remark applied equally to all killing, including that of the guilty and evil, I would find myself, along with the usual suspects including Saint Joan of Arc, loyally disagreeing with the Pope.

And I have no wish to disagree with him.