Problematyka pobierania zarodkowych komórek macierzystych w oficjalnych stanowiskach Kościołów ewangelicko-luterańskich Szwecji i Norwegii

This article is an attempt to present the opinions expressed by two Scandinavian Old Lutheran Churches: the Church of Sweden (Svenska kyrkan) and the Church of Norway (Den norske kirke), on obtaining embry-onic stem cells from human embryos. Both ecclesiastical organisms men-tioned above belong to the Lutheran World Federation and have already elaborated important positions on bioethics. The points of view and ethical evaluation expressed by them significantly differ from each other in their points of emphasis and applied argumentation. Norwegian Lutherans, in this matter, are more conservative than their Swedish brethren and simultaneously are more critical of ethical legalization of searching for and using human embryonic stem cells. What is more, the Swedes are quite liberal in this question and perhaps more open to the fruits of biomedical progress. The documents and recommendations, which have been formed in the mentioned churches, are relatively unknown in Poland. Their publication is intended to fill in this gap. In addition, they also constituteinteresting research material and deserve attention within the context of the general scope of ecumenical dialogue.