Reclaiming Our Children: A Blog About Healing After Abortion

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 
EXECUTIVE ORDER ON EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS 'A SAD VICTORY OF POLITICS OVER
SCIENCE AND ETHICS,' SAYS CARDINAL RIGALI

 
WASHINGTON-Cardinal Justin Rigali, chairman of the U.S. Conference of
Catholic Bishops' Committee on Pro-Life Activities, today called
President Obama's executive order on embryonic stem cell research "a sad
victory of politics over science and ethics." Under the order, for the
first time in U.S. history, federal tax dollars will be used to
encourage researchers to destroy live human embryos for stem cell
research. Cardinal Rigali also cited a January 16 letter in which
Cardinal Francis George, president of the USCCB, urged President-elect
Obama not to issue such an order. Cardinal Rigali's statement follows:

"President Obama's new executive order on embryonic stem cell research
is a sad victory of politics over science and ethics.  This action is
morally wrong because it encourages the destruction of innocent human
life, treating vulnerable human beings as mere products to be harvested.
It also disregards the values of millions of American taxpayers who
oppose research that requires taking human life. Finally, it ignores the
fact that ethically sound means for advancing stem cell science and
medical treatments are readily available and in need of increased
support.

"In his January 16th letter to President-elect Obama, Cardinal George,
writing as President of the USCCB, cited three reasons why such
destructive research is 'especially pointless at this time':

*      'First, basic research in the capabilities of embryonic stem
cells can be and is being pursued using the currently eligible cell
lines as well as the hundreds of lines produced with nonfederal funds
since 2001.

*      'Second, recent startling advances in reprogramming adult cells
into embryonic-like stem cells – hailed by the journal Science as the
scientific breakthrough of the year – are said by many scientists to be
making embryonic stem cells irrelevant to medical progress.

*      'Third, adult and cord blood stem cells are now known to have
great versatility, and are increasingly being used to reverse serious
illnesses and even help rebuild damaged organs. To divert scarce funds
away from these promising avenues for research and treatment toward the
avenue that is most morally controversial as well as most medically
speculative would be a sad victory of politics over science.'

"If the government wants to invest in hope for cures and promote
ethically sound science, it should use our tax monies for research that
everyone, at every stage of human development, can live with."