WASHINGTON, May 25, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) – As part of his opposition to embryonic stem cell research, US President Bush met yesterday with 21 families who had adopted children at the embryonic stage. The children had been abandoned by their biological parents after IVF treatments and some had been frozen for years before implantation.
Doni Brinkman, one of the adoptive mothers, wrote by email to LifeSiteNews.com saying, “This weekend I am taking my son to Washington DC to appear at a press conference on Tuesday sponsored by Congressman Joe Pitts. Tanner was adopted as a 2 PN embryo (frozen 3 years and 4 months). He is now 4. Praying that his presence in DC will help put a FACE on this issue.” Brinkman also said, “thank you for your awesome site!”
In most mainstream media coverage of the issue, the term “left over” or “spare” embryos is often used as a tactic to dehumanize the human person at the embryonic stage of life. Bush’s meeting will remind legislators that embryos are not merely biological commodities but persons. He said in a speech at the meeting that the families had “answered the call to ensure that our society’s most vulnerable members are protected and defended at every stage of life.”
“Rather than discard these embryos created during in vitro fertilization, or turn them over for research that destroys them, these families have chosen a life-affirming alternative,” said Bush.
With a bill pending in the House of Representatives that would allow the killing and harvesting of frozen IVF embryos for stem cell and other research, Bush met with the families to put a human face on the issue. “Today the House of Representatives is considering a bill that violates the clear standard I set four years ago. This bill would take us across a critical ethical line by creating new incentives for the ongoing destruction of emerging human life. Crossing this line would be a great mistake.”
Bush said, “In the complex debate over embryonic stem cell research, we must remember that real human lives are involved—both the lives of those with diseases that might find cures from this research, and the lives of the embryos that will be destroyed in the process. The children here today are reminders that every human life is a precious gift of matchless value.”
Bush has vowed that he will veto the stem cell bill which passed the House yesterday but not by a veto-proof margin.
At the close of his remarks, President Bush mentioned Tanner by name inviting those present to a birthday party for him and another child.
Read Bush’s full speech.