New poll: Michigan residents oppose cloning, destroying embryos

Lansing, Mich., Apr 27, 2007 / 07:15 am

A statewide poll, commissioned by the Michigan Catholic Conference, demonstrates that Michigan residents are overwhelmingly opposed to measures that would clone and destroy human embryos for research.

Draft legislation, recently introduced in the Michigan House of Representatives, seeks to amend Public Act 368 of 1978, which prohibits the destruction of human embryos for research purposes.

The bill would allow researchers to clone and destroy human embryos in the process know as therapeutic cloning. No treatments or cures have resulted from therapeutic cloning to date.

The poll, which was conducted April 15-16, revealed that 65 percent of Michigan residents would not vote in favor of eliminating the state’s ban on the cloning of human embryos, and 59 percent opposed therapeutic cloning — a procedure whereby human embryos are cloned for the sole purpose of harvesting stem cells.

Seventy percent of the people polled opposed stem cell research that kills the human embryo in the process of gathering stem cells, and 73 percent said they “worry about the future if the cloning of human embryos is allowed.”

Sixty percent of respondents said they do not trust elected officials to ensure that the cloning of embryos for stem cell research is not abused and is properly controlled.

An overwhelming 85 percent said they support stem cell research that uses adult stem cells or stem cells from umbilical cords.

Public Opinion Strategies surveyed 500 likely voters. The poll has a margin of error of 4.38 percent.

Michigan Catholic Conference is the official public policy voice of the Catholic Church in the state.