OTTAWA, June 16, 2003 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Capitalizing on the impudence of Dr. Alan Bernstein of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) who announced he would not wait for legislation on embryonic stem cell research (ESCR) before releasing public funds to support such research, scientists with the Stem Cell Network (SCN) have announced their intention to seek public funds for the controversial research. SCN scientific director Dr. Ron Worton says the group made of 65 researchers has applied to CIHR for ESCR funding and could commence as soon as this Fall.
Campaign Life Coalition (CLC) blasted the move. In a press release CLC said, “Scientists across Canada who have been waiting for tax money to pay for their deadly experiments have lost their patience and intend to proceed without legislation but of course, they expect to be paid.”
On June 13th Parliament recessed without passing Bill C-13 designed to regulate such research. Parliament is split on this Bill with many MPs unwilling to support ESCR which entails experimentation on live human beings.
“Scientists may never act arbitrarily to destroy human life”, said Jim Hughes, National President of Campaign Life Coalition. “The federal government must ensure that the CIHR obeys the authority of Parliament and does not distribute any funds to this dictating group. It seems that Winston Churchill's description of Hitler's 'new dark age of perverted science' has arrived in Canada”, continued Mr. Hughes.
Worton said that scientists have been waiting for the government “out of courtesy”. Responding to Worton, Mary Ellen Douglas National Organizer for CLC said, “Who in blazes does this man think he is? He intends to act without Parliamentary approval for his deadly experiments, but he demands the use of taxpayers' dollars.”
Campaign Life Coalition has called on the federal government to act immediately to control the CIHR and the impatient scientists bent on destroying human life for their own scientific ends.