The General Commission on Bioethics met for second time this year on 16 and 17 June, 2016, at the General Curia, attended by Brother José Maria Bermejo (Commission President); Brother Benigno Ramos; Dr Salvino Leone; Dr Maria Teresa Iannone; Dr Silvia Oger; Dr. Corinna Porteri; Sister Margarita Bofarull; Dr Mathew JACOB and Brother André Sène (Commission Secretary). Apologies were received from Brother Patrick.

Opening the session, Brother José Maria Bermejo welcomed back to the Commission Dr Mathew JACOB from the Indian Province, representing the Asia-Pacific region.

Among other agenda items, the Commission focused on the programme for the World Bioethics Congress scheduled for 11 – 14 September, 2017 in Madrid, (Spain), the work done by the regions over the past few months, the ethical issues raised by the Provinces, and the need to update Chapter 5 of the Charter of Hospitality regarding matters which have not been taken into account so far, and in particular surrogate motherhood, homosexuality, paedophilia, etc