OSA
Bible
The Streets
Press Releases
Newsletters
Articles
Legal
Links
Home

Our Purpose
Our Director
Support Us
Contact Us

email OSA
Web problems or suggestions?

 

What Other Pro-Lifers Are Saying About Bush's Embryonic Stem Cell Research Decision

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.