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CANCER, PARKINSON'S, DIABETES GROUPS RISK DONATIONS BY BACKING EMBRYO RESEARCH

Foundations Alienating Their Own Membership

OTTAWA, March 5, 2002 (LSN.ca) - Endorsement of destructive research on human embryos may cost charitable foundations donor support. The Canadian Cancer Society, Parkinson Society of Canada, Muscular Dystrophy Association, and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation all came out in support of research on human embryos in an endorsement of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) guidelines on such research.

Representatives of these various groups appeared at a press conference Monday with CIHR President Dr. Alan Bernstein as he announced research on embryos would receive public funding. Christian groups, while being strong supporters of charitable foundations seeking to end human suffering caused by debilitating diseases, are, however, opposed to destructive research on human embryos.

Dr. Thomas Langan, President of the Catholic Civil Rights League (CCRL) told LifeSite that CCRL would be writing the Cancer Society and the other groups to express their disappointment with the decision to support the controversial research. Dr. Langan told LifeSite that groups which support destructive research on human embryos "put Catholics in an untenable position because they will be unable in good conscience to donate to an otherwise worthy cause."

Bruce Clemenger, Director of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada's Centre for Faith and Public Life expressed similar sentiments. "Groups which are dependent on public donations should be careful about supporting deeply controversial methods of research," Clemenger told LifeSite.

Mark Pickup, a disabled activist in Calgary told LifeSite that by supporting such research these groups are alienating portions of their own membership. Pickup, who is disabled with progressive multiple sclerosis, mentioned the abundance of ethical sources of stem cells, such as from umbilical cord blood, placentas, fat tissue, skin and others. He asked: "Why would we then endorse with public dollars a controversial area which will preclude a significant number of disabled people from enjoying the benefits of that research due to ethical concerns?" He concluded, "Therapies that develop from such research will exclude me, I will not be able to participate. We don't need to go there."

Once again it is a mystery why there is such institutional support for this research that has not any produced significant results, whose claims of success have been vastly exaggerated and for which there have proven to be far more productive and ethical alternatives.

See the Cancer Society and Juvenile Diabetes Foundation's releases backing destructive research on human embryos:
http://www.cancer.ca/english/MC_MR_02_mar5.asp
http://www.jdfc.ca/press/pressrelease.cfm?id=75

To express your concerns:

Canadian Cancer Society
National Office
Suite 200, 10 Alcorn Avenue
Toronto, Ontario M4V 3B1
416-961-7223
fax 416-961-4189
ccs@cancer.ca

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
National Office
7100 Woodbine Avenue
Suite 311
Markham, Ontario
L3R 5J2
TEL: (905) 944-8700
FAX: (905) 944-0800
TOLL FREE: 1-877 CURE JDF
e-mail: general@jdrf.ca

Muscular Dystrophy Association of Canada
Yves Savoie, National Executive Director and Executive Director - Ontario
Suite 901, 2345 Yonge Street
Toronto, ON M4P 2E5
Toll Free: 1-800-567-2873
Tel: (416) 488-2699
Fax: (416) 488-0107
Danielle Gonsalves, District Coordinator - Central South Ontario
dgonsalves@mdac.ca

Parkinson Society Canada 4211 Yonge Street, Suite 316 Toronto, Ontario M2P 2A9 Tel : 416-227-9700 Fax: 416-227-9600 Toll Free: 1-800-565-3000 Email: General.info@parkinson.ca

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