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Sen. Ted Cruz's wife douses him with water as part of the Ice Bucket challenge for ALS research.Youtube

One of the nation's most prominent senators is doing the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge — but encouraging donations to a pro-life ALS research institute.

In the last month, the ALS Ice Bucket challenge, sponsored by the ALS Association, has raised tens of millions of dollars for research for the disease, commonly known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. However, in mid-August pro-life leaders raised awareness that the Association supports embryonic stem-cell research.

Embryonic stem-cell research includes the destruction of a human embryo, and is thus condemned by pro-life advocates as an abortion. The Association has said it currently has one project that uses embryonic stem cells, funded by an outside donor.

In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Cruz — who took the challenge last week — said that he and his wife “are proud to personally support the John Paul II Medical Research Institute the Home of Give Cures (https://jp2mri.org), which conducts groundbreaking research into curing this terrible disease, without using embryonic stem cells.”

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“The JPII Institute respects human life, and is working to improve the lives of all of us,” said Cruz. 

The ALS Association has said donors may specify their dollars not be used to fund embryonic stem-cell research. However, critics note that donated funds are fungible, meaning they potentially free up funds the Association can then direct to illicit research.

At least two Catholic dioceses have encouraged Ice Bucket Challenge participants to donate to the JPII Medical Institute.