Bishop D'Arcy Defends Human Embryonic Life

The president, while claiming to separate science from politics, has, in fact, separated science from ethics. He has brought the American government into supporting the direct destruction of innocent human life.

SOUTH BEND (Catholic Online) - The courageous Bishop of the Diocese of Fort Wayne - South Bend is in the news today for refusing to attend the graduation commencement at the University of Notre Dame. His refusal, after 25 years of attendance, is directly due to the University decision to have President Obama not only address the graduating class receive an honorary Doctor of Law Degree.

Bishop D'Arcy released another statement earlier this month. It received very little Press. However, it is cut from the same cloth, courage. It is a clear, succunct and very important explanation of why this Executive Order is deeply immoral, deadly and dangerous.

We present this clear, unwavering defense of human embryonic life for all of our readers.It is found on the Web Site for the Diocese. In so doing we once again ask for prayer for this Bishop and a show of public support for his actions and his recent decision:

Regarding President Obama's decision to allow federally funding the destruction of embryonic human beings for stem-cell research

"On March 9, 2009, President Obama extended the ability of the federal government to directly fund the destruction of embryonic human beings in order to advance stem-cell research. We should be clear about what is happening here.

The president, while claiming to separate science from politics, has, in fact, separated science from ethics. He has brought the American government into supporting the direct destruction of innocent human life.

While the Catholic Church is in full support of stem-cell research that is ethical and scientifically sound, it is opposed to all research that would use a human being -- at whatever stage of development -- simply as a means to an end. Embryonic stem-cell research does just this.

In addition, while President Obama declared his opposition to human cloning for purposes of reproduction, he left the door open to human cloning for the purposes of experimentation.

In other words, while human beings could be cloned with taxpayer money in order to be exploited and killed for scientific research, they could not be cloned and implanted in the womb of a woman in order to be born. This is science at its very worst.

President Obama claims that his decision sets aside ideology in order to advance sound scientific research. The opposite is actually the truth.

This decision by the president is an imposition of a utilitarian ideology, which allows a group of human beings that some believe do not share human dignity, to be used and exploited.

Human history, of course, is rife with examples of the strong dominating the weak and defenseless. Doesn't the promise of a democratic America -- of respect for the dignity of all -- hold us to a higher standard?

Recent breakthroughs in stem-cell research -- including the use of adult stem cells -- should actually make this question moot.

Just last year it was shown that a normal human skin cell could be successfully reprogrammed into an embryonic-like cell. This holds no ethical problems. Yet, there seems to be a headlong rush to do not only what is ethically wrong, but what is likely a scientific dead end.

I pray that Congress will not act to appropriate any funds for embryonic stem-cell research and, in doing so, respect the conscientious objections of millions of American taxpayers who want to preserve, protect and defend the dignity of every human life.

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