House Passes Destructive Stem Cell Research Bill

From the USCCB (US Bishops Conference):

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BISHOPS' OFFICIAL REACTS TO HOUSE PASSAGE OF DESTRUCTIVE STEM CELL RESEARCH BILL

WASHINGTON—Today the U.S. House of Representatives voted 253 to 174 to pass H.R. 3 and remove current limits on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. Richard Doerflinger, Deputy Director of the Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops made the following statement in response:

"Today the House voted to force all taxpayers to fund stem cell research requiring the destruction of human embryos. As in the past, President Bush has pledged to veto this misguided and unethical legislation, and there are not enough votes to override that veto.

"Congress should now turn its attention to stem cell research that poses no moral problem – constructive research that is already beginning to help patients with dozens of conditions in clinical trials. Unlike embryonic stem cell research, research using stem cells from adult tissue, umbilical cord blood, amniotic fluid and other sources is showing enormous promise and is likely to produce new treatments for patients now living.

"Most Americans support stem cell research, and most greatly prefer that this research advance without harming or destroying human life at any stage. The truly statesmanlike approach to this issue would be to take up this challenge, supporting medical progress that all Americans can live with."
-USCCB Pro-Life Secretariat

Coverage from Catholic World News:
http://www.cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=48575

From First Things journal:
http://www.firstthings.com/ftissues/ft0701/articles/condic.html

The hope of adult stem cells as a moral alternative:
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/jan/07011602.html

More articles on the issue of embryonic stem cell research:
http://swallowedscroll.blogspot.com/2006/10/embryonic-stem-cell-research-lets-look.html

http://swallowedscroll.blogspot.com/2006/11/more-on-evils-of-embryonic-stem-cell.html