(AP Photo/L'Osservatore Romano)

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Members of the Vatican's bioethics advisory panel have called for its board to resign after scientists who don't support core church teaching on issues like birth control and infertility were featured at its annual conference.

The academy had previously invited only like-minded professionals to speak at its conferences. But under the academy's new head, there's a new openness to engage with non-likeminded scientists while insisting on defending life as being from conception until natural death.

Members were astounded that speakers at a Feb. 24 infertility conference supported techniques contrary to church teaching.

The Rev. Scott Borgman, the academy's coordinating secretary, stressed Wednesday that the academy's purpose was aimed at "creating dialogue with science and not closing ourselves off with our own dialogue."

Associated Press
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