CHICAGO, November 19, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Embryonic stem cell research (ESCR) fans were stunned bythe defeat of a bill granting state endorsement to ESCR in the state Senate. After an emotional debate which was concluded by a tear-jerking email plea from the late actor Christopher Reeve, the chamber voted 28-29 against the measure. While ESCR supporters inserted language in the bill to suggest a ban on human cloning, ESCR opponents pointed out that even that ban contained loopholes to allow cloning.
The strong opposition of the Catholic Church to the measure was shown to be very effective as one Senator switched his previous stance in favour of the legislation to a neutral stance. Sen. James DeLeo (D-Chicago), who supported ESCR in a spring vote, told the Chicago Tribune he abstained from voting for the measure due to a large majority of Catholics in his Northwest Side district and the strong opposition of the Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago. Jhw