President Overturns Prohibition of Deadly Embryonic Stem Cell Funding

Fulfilling a campaign promise, the president today overturned the policy of the Bush administration regarding the restriction of funding for embryonic stem cell research.

WASHINGTON (Catholic Online) - Continuing his assault against culture of life issues, President Barack Obama today overturned former President Bush's restriction on funding for deadly embryonic stem cell research.

As he initiated the change of White House policy, the president stated, "The full promise of stem cell research remains unknown, and it should not be overstated, but scientists believe these tiny cells may have the potential to help us understand, and possibly cure, some of our most devastating diseases and conditions."

U.S. law forbids the use of federal money to take stem cells from human embryos. Such an "extraction" is always lethal.Obama's move, however, allows federally funded researchers to work with all stem cells available and even those produced with non-federal funds.

On these stem cells, Obama directed the National Institutes of Health to set new research guidelines within 120 days.

The Bush administration had opposed embryonic stem cell research because it involves the destruction of embryos - each a human life.

President Obama dismissed that view as false.
"When it comes to stem cell research, rather than furthering discovery, our government has forced what I believe is a false choice between sound science and moral values," he said.

"As a person of faith, I believe we are called to care for each other and work to ease human suffering. I believe we have been given the capacity and will to pursue this research -- and the humanity and conscience to do so responsibly."

This recent action has continued to fuel the anger of the pro-life community who has seen the new administration systematically dismantle several safeguards for life during his first 45 days in office.

Prior to this action, Francis Cardinal George of Chicago, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, had asked the president to maintain the policy already in effect. He stated that the change in policy would be a big mistake "morally, politically and in terms of advancing the solidarity and well-being of our nation's people."

Marjorie Dannenfelser, President of the Susan B. Anthony List, released the following statement:

"Compassion can never be built upon callous disregard for human life. True scientific integrity is advancing successful science that respects moral standards and the inherent value of human life at all stages.

"Our country is facing an acute economic crisis, and it is shocking to learn that President Obama's first priority is promoting the idea that American taxpayers should fund the destruction of human life.

"In his actions, the president did raise concern about cloning and called for strong guidelines to prevent "misuse or abuse" of the research.

"We will ensure that that our government never opens the door to the use of cloning for human reproduction," he said. "It is dangerous, profoundly wrong and has no place in our society or any society."

Fr. Thomas Berg, executive director of New York's Westchester Institute for Ethics & the Human Person and member of the ethics committee of the Empire State Stem Cell Board, criticized the move as unnecessary and culturally divisive.

"There is a growing chorus of secular and scientific voices that are now recognizing the obvious: we really don't need to be destroying human embryos to get the kind of stem cells we need. IPS [induced pluripotent stem cell] research is doing that for us.

"There is an increasing public demand," he continued, "for scientists to drop the culturally divisive and ethically objectionable research in favor of research that everyone can get on board with. I wish the President would lead the charge in challenging scientists to do just that.

"Moreover, in the midst of this current economic crisis, it's a travesty to waste money on an immoral scientific endeavor that is already outpaced by scientifically superior, and ethically unproblematic advances."

Wendy Wright, president of Concerned Women for America, echoed the concerns of other pro-life advocates.

"Embryonic stem cell research is a destructive and outdated method that has become a holy grail to political and scientific activists who seek no moral restraints on their work.

"President Obama's order places the worst kind of politics above ethics -- politics driven by hype makes overblown promises, fuels the desperation of the suffering, and financially benefits those seeking to strip morality from science. It is politics at its worst," stated Wright.

"Millions of dollars have been spent on destructive embryonic stem cell research in California, England and elsewhere. The results have been abject failure because embryonic stem cells tend to become deadly tumors.

"Science has surpassed this unethical research, producing astonishing advances with adult stem cells and discovering ways to make embryonic- like stem cells without killing anyone. Alternatives to embryonic stem cells are more efficient, effective, and are actually treating patients."

"Some claim that hundreds of thousands of embryos are discarded each year and should be used for research. This is absolutely false. Most of the 400,000 embryos in fertility clinics are wanted by their parents and are awaiting implantation and the welcoming arms of their families.

"The claim betrays an attitude that these embryos are government property and can be confiscated and used for experiments. It's an example of the hype and manipulation advocates of embryonic stem cell research have used to pursue their politics."

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