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Spare the Embryos
As we have written here several times, experimentation on human embryos – the first stages of human life – is not only a moral atrocity, it is also a colossal waste of financial resources.
Now comes word from scientists in Wisconsin and Japan telling of the creation of embryonic-like stem cells reprogramming mature human cells, rather than destroying human embryos. Scientists no longer have an excuse for creating human stem cells in the laboratory, which requires the destruction of human embryos. The process appears to be easier, more cost-efficient, scientifically promising and morally feasible.
Along with Kathleen Gallagher, director of pro-life activities for the New York State Catholic Conference, we call upon New York State to immediately pursue this scientific research with the public funds that the Legislature has earmarked for stem-cell research. Some of those funds would have gone to destructive embryonic research and human cloning, both of which are no longer necessary in view of recent breakthroughs.
Once again, we remind our readers that the Catholic Church does not oppose stem-cell research, as so many people would have you believe. The Church only takes a negative stand upon embryonic stem-cell research because it requires the creation of human life in a test tube and then the deliberate destruction of those first stages of human life.
“Ethics that respects the human being is useful also in research,” said Bishop Elio Sgreccia, president of the Pontifical Academy for Life.
And, he explained, the results demonstrate that “it is not true that the Church is against research, only that it is against bad research, research which damages human beings, in this case the human embryo.”
The benefits of stem-cell research could be cures of chronic diseases and disabilities. The new research, which eliminates the use of embryonic experimentation, has cleared the way for what should be a hurdle over the currently troublesome methods practiced in the scientific community. There is no excuse any longer for a morally acceptable path for this promising work.
Scientific progress can be achieved without violating basic ethical norms, the bishop pointed out.
“The Church conducted this battle for ethical reasons, encouraging researchers to move ahead with adult stem cells and declaring illicit the destruction of embryos,” Bishop Sgreccia said.
The success of the approach, which the Japanese and U.S. researchers followed for scientific and not primarily for ethical reasons, demonstrates that progress does not have to violate ethical norms.
It is a shame that so many human embryos have been destroyed and so many millions of taxpayer dollars have been spent on embryonic stem-cell research when better results have been obtained without destroying embryos.
It is true that researchers do not know for sure what will work and what will not when they begin a project, but as the bishop said, “there were already indications that results could be obtained using adult stem cells, while from embryonic stem cells there have been no results.”
“I do not know if those who have invested money and passed laws precisely to allow this (embryonic stem-cell research) will be able to recognize their error and turn back, but at least the scientists who want to achieve results will go looking where they have been proven to be found,” Bishop Sgreccia said.
We certainly hope our leaders have the guts to admit their mistakes and amend the path they have chosen, especially here in New York State. Gov. Eliot Spitzer has been quick to admit his errors in other areas. He should lead the way now and proclaim New York State free of any further immoral research on human embryos.
Error in the Classrooms
The New York City public school system continues to operate under the mistaken notion that it is illegal to display a nativity scene in one of its institutions.
Actually, the Second Circuit Court U.S. Court of Appeals ruled in 2006, “We do not here decide whether the City could, consistent with the Constitution, include a crèche in its holiday displays.”
In other words, there is no legal ban on having a crèche in a public school. The banning of such symbols comes from the Board of Education itself, not from the courts.
Because schools are allowed to display menorahs and the Islamic star and crescent, under the mistaken notion that they are not religious symbols, we agree with the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights that Christians have parity with those of the Jewish and Muslim faiths when it comes to the public display of holiday symbols.
By the way, the Catholic League points out an embarrassing error in a recent communiqué with the New York Board of Education, which misspells the word “chreche.” Of course, there is no such word. So much for education!
The Catholic League is continuing to press its case with the NYC Schools’ Chancellor’s office. We hope for a positive outcome which treats all people of faith with the same good will.
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