Washington D.C., Jan 15, 2007 / 13:49 pm
Following the United States House of Representatives’ decision to pass H.R. 3, a bill that would remove current limits on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, Richard Doerflinger, Deputy Director of the Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops voiced criticism and argued that Congress should back the type of ethical stem cell research that is supported by most Americans.
"Today the House voted to force all taxpayers to fund stem cell research requiring the destruction of human embryos,” Doerflinger began. While President Bush has pledged to veto the “misguided and unethical” legislation, as he has in the past, the USCCB official noted, "Congress should now turn its attention to stem cell research that poses no moral problem.”
Doerflinger noted the success already achieved by other, ethical types of stem cell research. “Unlike embryonic stem cell research,” he noted, “research using stem cells from adult tissue, umbilical cord blood, amniotic fluid and other sources is showing enormous promise and is likely to produce new treatments for patients now living.”
"Most Americans support stem cell research,” he added, “and most greatly prefer that this research advance without harming or destroying human life at any stage. The truly statesmanlike approach to this issue would be to take up this challenge, supporting medical progress that all Americans can live with."