One of my favorite Cardinals speaks out against the destruction of human embryos.Because embryonic stem cell research destroys life and has shown NO results, It is frustrating that there are some who still try to promote it.
Cardinal Justin Rigali, chair of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Pro-life Activities, has criticized the new National Institutes of Health (NIH) guidelines on human embryonic stem cell research, lamenting that they are “even broader” than their draft proposals.
His April 21 statement on the draft guidelines had said federal tax dollars would be used to encourage destruction of “living embryonic human beings” for stem cell research, including “human beings who otherwise would have survived and been born.”
On Tuesday Cardinal Rigali said the final guidelines are “even broader” in that “parents asked to consider having their embryonic children destroyed for research will not even have to be informed about all their other options” but only about options available at their particular fertility clinic.
“Moreover, under the final guidelines, stem cell lines that existed previously or that are produced in foreign countries may be made eligible for federally funded research even if they were obtained in ways that violate one or more of the NIH's own informed consent requirements,” he said.
There was some question about whether the new NIH informed consent requirements would disqualify certain embryonic stem cell lines permitted funding by President George W. Bush’s policy. Some defenders of President Obama’s stem cell policy pointed to this apparent restriction as evidence in its favor.
Bill Donohue of the Catholic League agrees with the Cardinal:
New NIH Guidelines Give Scientists Green Light for Embryonic Stem Cell Research
3 comments:
Hi Christine. I am a new follower and I really enjoy your blog. I wanted to comment on the stem cell article, so here goes. I wouldn't say, along with you, that embryonic stem cell research has had NO results. There are people who have been treated with these cells and have developed cancers and monster tumors. I am sure they wish ESC treatments were merely ineffective.
excellent point.
Thanks for the comment!
At any rate, I liked some of the NIH cartoonson VADLO search engine!
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