What Other
Pro-Lifers Are Saying About Bush's Embryonic Stem Cell Research Decision
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August 14,
2001
What Other Pro-Lifers
Are Saying About Bush's Embryonic Stem Cell Research Decision
AMERICAN VICTIMS OF
ABORTION: Olivia Ganes, spokeswoman for American Victims of Abortion said
she was "quite delighted" that Bush prevented further killing of embryos for
experimentation. "We mourn the deaths of children killed to provide the
existing stem cell lines. But this protects the embryonic children at
risk."
GARY BAUER: "This is
the beginning of the debate, not the end. I am gratified that he didn't go
further towards subsidizing this research." Bauer said Bush would likely gain
support temporarily in the polls, but that down the road that support would
erode. Bauer also said the scientific community would likely criticize Bush for
not going far enough by allowing the creation of new embryos.
CAMPAIGN LIFE COALITION
(CANADA): "We applaud his support of adult (somatic) stem cell research.
Such research is ethical and closer to actual medical application. We hope the
researchers will take advantage of the federal funding of this research so that
calls for destructive embryonic stem cell research will cease. We are concerned
that his support for limited experimentation with the 60 lines already created
will open the flood gates to full scale embryonic experimentation."
CATHOLIC HEATH
ASSOCIATION: "CHA supports President Bush's decision not to provide federal
funding for the procurement of stem cells from existing embryos or embryos
produced for that purpose. That being said, what could appear as a carefully
nuanced solution to a complex issue -- utilizing the already existing cultured
stem cell lines -- itself raises significant moral concerns for our society.
Because these cell lines resulted from the destruction of human embryonic life,
their origin is morally reprehensible. The continued use of these cultured stem
cell lines by scientists involves complicity in the destruction of embryonic
human life.
CENTER FOR BIOETHICS AND
HUMAN DIGNITY: "The Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity is disappointed
that President Bush did not completely ban federal funding of embryonic stem
cell research, but is pleased that tax dollars will not be used to fund
research requiring the destruction of more human embryos. Moreover, significant
funding will be devoted to research using stem cells from umbilical cord blood,
placentas, and other tissues."
CHRISTIAN COALITION:
"We are content that President Bush has placed limits and would not allow
any federal dollars to pay for the additional killing of human life," Executive
Vice President of the Christian Coalition Roberta Combs stated. "Even though
the stem cells President Bush is allowing funding for, arose from destroyed
embryos, we are pleased he will not fund additional destruction."
CHRISTIAN LEGAL SOCIETY:
Samuel B. Casey, Executive Director of the Christian Legal Society, praised
the President for supporting adult stem cell research and having the moral
courage to stand against any use of federal funds that would encourage the
further killing of human embryos. On the negative side, Casey criticized the
decision saying, "Obviously, this is a 'political' compromise that still
violates existing law; breaches the spirit, if not the letter, of Mr. Bush's
campaign promise not to use 'taxpayers funds... to underwrite [any] research
the involves the destruction of live human embryo;' sets us on a 'slippery
slope;' and satisfies neither side while failing to acknowledge that human
embryos are human beings that should never be used for destructive scientific
experimentation."
CHRISTIAN LIFE RESOURCES:
"On Thursday evening President Bush made the right decision in not allowing
federal money to be used for termination of human lives in their embryonic
stage for the purpose of stem cell research. His allowance for continued
research on existing embryonic stem cell lines reflects his compassion for the
many people who suffer from various maladies and are desperately looking for
cures. The past loss of life that led to these existing stem cell lines is
indeed tragic, and benefits from this research may likely cause conscience
problems for many who may benefit from it. We are confident that, as God has
often done in the past, good will come from doing the right thing in protecting
human life and will bless ethical research to care for human life."
CULTURE OF LIFE
FOUNDATION: "Culture of Life Foundation joins Catholic Bishops and the
Christian Medical Association in criticism of the decision of President George
W. Bush to seek federal funding of Embryonic Stem Cell Research."
CONCERNED WOMEN FOR
AMERICA: "The President has embraced the hair-splitting logic of the
previous Administration, in pretending that it is wrong to conduct experiments
on someone you have killed yourself, but right to do so on someone who has been
killed by another. The critical moral question is not who killed the victim,
but rather shall we profit from that killing?"
CONGRESSMAN CHRIS SMITH:
"For the millions of Americans who agree with President Bush that 'human
life is a sacred gift from our Creator,' yesterday's decision was deeply
disappointing. The proposal to allow federal funding for experimentation on
stem cells obtained through the destruction of living human embryos is a
mistake. Allowing the use of stem cells obtained from human embryos to receive
federal funding, however limited or defined, opens a new door that may prove
difficult to close. As the author of the Responsible Stem Cell Research Act of
2001 (H.R. 2096), I remain confident that science will continue to show that
stem cells obtained from non-embryonic sources, including umbilical cord blood,
placentas and plentiful adult tissues, are the quickest, most promising and
only ethical route to achieve significant medical advances."
CONGRESSMAN J.C. WATTS:
"While I wouldn't reach the same conclusion, President Bush's position
maintains the principle that taxpayer dollars should not be used for the
destruction of human embryos for any purpose. However, it is critical that we
all work together to be eternally vigilant to avoid the slippery slope that
could lead to embryo farms or other unconscionable scenarios involving this
research. It is also important to remember that embryonic stem cell research is
no panacea. There are countless other research efforts that may provide far
better results and are far less divisive. Adult stem cell research -from
umbilical cords or body fat - is just one of those options. The Administration
and Congress should work together to accelerate these efforts."
EAGLE FORUM:
"President Bush made the wrong decision morally, scientifically, legally,
and politically by approving federal funds for embryonic stem cell research.
President Bush's announcement contradicts his past statements calling for the
rebuilding of a culture of life. He has embraced the cause of science in a way
that disrespects life in its earliest stages. Embryonic stem cell research in
the name of the 'greatest public good' is wrong."
FLORIDA RIGHT TO LIFE:
"In a thoughtful speech to the Nation this evening President Bush announced
that he would not allow any federal funding of stem cell research that would
involve the destruction of human embryos. Florida Right to Life is saddened
over the loss of those embryos already destroyed, but realizes there is nothing
that can be done by President Bush to change that. We are thrilled with this
decision that stops the government from taking any further part in the killing
of human embryos for medical experimentation."
GREAT AUSTIN RIGHT TO
LIFE: "Greater Austin Right to Life applauds the President's decision to
prevent federal funding that is used to kill human embryos. While we have
concerns about the the use of stem cells obtained by the killing of human
embryos begun under the Clinton Administration and a ban on funding research on
stem cells derived in this manner would relieve these concerns, we are
delighted that President Bush's decision prevents the federal government from
becoming a party to any further killing of human embryos for medical
experimentation."
ILLINOIS RIGHT TO LIFE:
"The bottom line is that no federal funds will be used for embryonic stem
cell research where human embryos will be killed. A concern does exist,
however, that funding research using stem cells already obtained by killing
human embryos, even though 'the life-and-death decision has already been made,'
will encourage new attempts to cross the boundary that the President has
established."
KENTUCKY RIGHT TO LIFE:
"Kentucky Right to Life Association appreciates President Bush's statement
to not allow federal funding of stem-cell research that involves the killing of
any more human embryos. President Bush recognizes the humanity of these tiny
human beings called embryos and believes that they possess an inalienable right
to life. However, it is disturbing that by now permitting federal funding, of
what previously was experimentation on existing stem-cell lines by the private
sector, American citizens will now be forced into subsidizing tragic
experimentation that diminishes human life."
LIFE (England):
"LIFE, the leading prolife charity in the UK, has welcomed President Bush's
decision not to allow federal funding of research using stem cells taken from
spare human embryos left-over from future IVF procedures or from cloned or IVF
embryos specifically created for research use. We wish the President had gone
yet further and refused to fund even research using stem cell lines taken from
dead embryos. That would have shown the absolute respect for their humanity
which they deserve."
LIFE ISSUES INSTITUTE:
"Life Issues Institute is deeply disappointed with President Bush's
concession on the life and death issue of federal funding for embryonic stem
cell research. "This so-called compromise condones what was deliberate killing
of embryonic children to harvest their stem cells for unproven research," said
Dr. Willke, president of Life Issues Institute.
NATIONAL CATHOLIC
BIOETHICS CENTER: "The National Catholic Bioethics Center applauds the
fundamental positions taken by the President on embryonic stem cell research.
President Bush stated clearly that he will not allow federal funds to be used
for future research on stem cells obtained through the destruction of human
embryos, even if the killing of the embryos takes place in the private sector.
There was disappointment in the decision, as well. It is good that he at least
recognized that the 60 stem cell lines had their origin in the destruction of
embryonic human life. However, he unfortunately then argued that those who had
already been involved in the destruction of those embryos, and those who come
later, can benefit from government funds."
DAVID O'STEEN: "We
commend President Bush's decision to prevent the federal government from
becoming involved in research and experimentation that would require the
deliberate destruction of human embryos. In taking this position, the President
has acted to save the lives that he could. We further commend President Bush's
strong opposition to all human cloning and to the creation of human embryos for
research purposes. While we mourn the lives of those children that were killed
to derive the sixty-plus stem cell lines that currently exist, there is nothing
that we, as a pro-life community or President Bush can do to restore the lives
of those children. Neither President Bush nor the federal government had
anything to do with the destruction of those embryos or the establishment of
those cell lines."
PRO-LIFE ALLIANCE
(England): "We are disappointed in President Bushs decision to endorse
Federal Funding for limited stem cell research, because the issues at stake
here are about absolute respect for early human life, not about compromise. To
allow a little bit of something which is intrinsically immoral, will never be
acceptable. However, the funding would be available only for research on
existing stem cell lines. No new destruction of embryos would be allowed and,
according to the President, permitted research would be very carefully
controlled. And it is worth remembering that none of this has anything to do
with human cloning, which received a no-compromise veto by Congress recently."
DAVID REARDON:
"George Bush claims his decision to provide federal funds for stem cell
research using existing stem cell lines avoids government involvement in the
killing of embryos, for the dirty deed has already been done. What he and the
press have ignored is that these federal funds will become profits to the
private companies that did kill these human lives and are now selling their
remains on the market. Rather than being punished for what Bush believes is an
unethical practice, these companies will not only be financially rewarded for
being the first to kill embroyos for their tissue, but they will also given a
monopoly on selling embryonic stem cell tissue to federally funded
researchers."
SOUTHERN BAPTIST CHURCH:
"The fact that he is not putting federal funds in the support of killing
additional babies is a very critical line not crossed," said Richard Land,
president of the Southern Baptists' Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission.
TOWARD TRADITION:
"Toward Tradition, a national pro-family coalition of Jews and Christians,
welcomed President Bush's decision to strictly limit federal funding of
research on embryonic stem-cells." Noting that "not all men nor all presidents"
are up to making such nuanced moral choices, Rabbi Daniel Lapin, TT's
president, said that Bush "made us proud of him and of his office. Toward
Tradition is also delighted with the President's selection of Leon Kass to
further investigate the matter of embryonic stem-cell research. Professor Kass
is a profoundly engaged moral philosopher, and not coincidentally a committed
Jew. We expect that his contribution will be a genuine Kiddush HaShem, a
sanctification of Gods name."
TRADITIONAL VALUES
COALITION: "While we respect the President's commitment to protecting the
right to life, we are deeply troubled by the implications of this decision for
the future," said Lafferty. "We agree with the position taken by Kansas Senator
Sam Brownback who has stated 'We simply do not need to do any research which
relies on the destruction of human beings.'"
UNITED METHODIST CHURCH:
"We would have liked him to continue the moratorium that was in place, but
if you're going to do this research with federal funding, he narrowed it as
much as he could," said Jay Dee Hanson of the United Methodist Board of Church
and Society in Washington.
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