Washington DC, 26th May 2005 (CNA)
- President George W. Bush has promised to
veto a bill, which would allow government funding
for embryonic stem-cell research. Bush made his
intention know after the House approved H.R. 810
on Tuesday.
The House also approved H.R. 2520, which
supports research that uses stem cells from
umbilical cord blood. The bill also establishes a
nationwide public bank for umbilical cord blood
stem cells.
While embryonic stem-cell research requires
the destruction of the embryo, that is, human life
at its initial stages, stem-cell research using
umbilical cord blood does not compromise or
destroy human life.
Officials of the U.S. Conference of
Catholic Bishops are pleased with the vote on
research based on umbilical cord blood, but they
had come out strongly against embryonic stem-cell
research
An official with the USCCB Secretariat for
Pro-Life Activities noted that the pro-life
movement was up against the Hollywood celebrities,
researchers and scientists and the wealthy
biotechnology industry in the debate on embryonic
stem-cell research.
Richard Doerflinger said the “floor debate
showed an appalling degree of ignorance and
confusion on the issue.” For example, some said
that “embryonic stem cells have a proven ability
to cure patients and that adult stem cells do not,
whereas exactly the opposite is true,” Doerflinger
said.
According to a poll conducted this month,
52 percent of Americans oppose federal funding of
embryonic stem-cell research. When given a choice
between funding all stem-cell research, or only
research which does not require destroying human
embryos, respondents favored the latter by 60 to
22 percent.
“Society must focus its efforts on
promoting medical research that all Americans can
live with,” said
Doerflinger.
