WASHINGTON, July 11, 2001 (LSN.ca) – As US President George Bush is about to release his decision on the use and funding of the destructive use of human embryos for stem cell experimentation, advocates and opponents are competing to have their voices heard. Pro-life groups have presented a unified front against the killing of this youngest of human life. At the same time, special interest groups and corporations which have spent much money on embryonic stem cell research are urging Bush to go further than Clinton in supporting such research. On all fronts the competition in this latest front of the war on the life of the unborn is fierce.
THE LEGISLATION
As LifeSite has reported, the battle over stem cells has pitted pro-abortion Republicans against their pro-life counterparts and both camps have written the president urging support for their position. Competing legislation on the issue has been introduced in the US House. Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA) has introduced the “Stem Cell Research Act of 2001” to change the law so federal funds can be used to destroy human embryos for their stem cells. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) has introduced the “Responsible Stem Cell Research Act of 2001” to increase funding for stem cell research that does not require destruction of human life at any stage.
THE SCIENCE
Competing groups of scientists have come out on both sides of the issue. While the National Institutes of Health has authorized research on stem cells from human embryos, a coalition of scientists under the banner of “Do No Harm” has submitted an impressive report on the latest adult stem cell research demonstrating that “the arguments for federal funding of destructive human embryonic stem-cell research rely on an outdated understanding that markedly underestimates the number of adult stem cells present in an adult human and the efficiency with which those cells can be reproduced.''
THE DISABLED
Disabled movie stars have also clashed on the issue with other spokespersons for the disabled. While Christopher Reeve and Michael J. Fox have spoken out in favour of human embryo research, Ron Heagy, a disabled opponent of destructive human embryo research gave testimony to the US Senate. Heagy, a motivational speaker, informed the Senate that he is “completely paralyzed, with absolutely no movement in my arms, hands or legs, requiring 24 hour care.” He said he was “excited about the research on adult stem cells, and I am in favor of research that may assist in curing, or helping, those with disabilities,” however he added “never would I, or should this nation, support research at the expense of another human life.”
MEDIA CAMPAIGNS
Advocacy groups on both sides are attempting to garner public support by media advertising campaigns. Yesterday the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation launched a major TV and print advertising campaign attempting to pull heartstrings in favour of human embryo research with an 11-year-old with juvenile diabetes. Meanwhile, the American Bioethics Advisory Commission took out a full-page ad in The Washington Times noting, “Embryonic stem cell research kills real people, and real scientists understand this.” The ad states: “REMOVE STEM CELLS FROM EMBRYOS AND REAL PERSONS REALLY DIE.” It features “Tommy Thompson, DHHS Secretary, embryonic person, 1941,” and 15 lawmakers who support experimentation which involves killing embryonic persons. “As famous people often do,” the ad continues, “they've forgotten where they came from. Because all of them were once embryonic persons. And all would have died anonymous deaths had their stem cells been removed.”
BATTLING POLLS Polls on the issue failing to specify the type of stem cell research in question (either ethically problematic human embryonic stem cell research or ethically permissible adult stem cell research) find the public generally in support of stem cell research and its public funding. An ABC/Beliefnet poll found that 60% support funding of such research and 31% oppose it. However, the poll failed to mention that adult stem cells could provide the same benefits as embryonic stem cells are hoped to. A poll by International Communications Research commissioned by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops asked Americans to choose between funding all stem cell research (both adult and embryonic), and funding only adult stem cell research and similar alternatives to see if there is no need to destroy embryos for research. The poll found Americans prefer the latter approach 67% to 18%.
THE PRESIDENTS
One alarming fact for pro-lifers in this battle is that the pressure from those advocating the destructive experimentation on human embryos is encouraging “pro-life” President Bush to outdo even his militantly pro-abortion predecessor. That point was made poignantly recently by Bishop Joseph A. Fiorenza, head of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, who on behalf of the US Bishops wrote Bush asking him not to fund the destructive research. “Throughout this history, however, no administration of either party has funded a research project that relies on destroying live human embryos . Even President Clinton's National Bioethics Advisory Commission, recognizing the human embryo as 'a developing form of human life,' concluded that the use of embryos from fertility clinics for such research cannot be justified if morally noncontroversial alternatives exist,” he wrote.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
Yesterday Bush met privately with a group of bioethicists in the Oval Office. The White House refused to divulge the identity of the scientists, describing them only as “some of the leading thinkers on issues of ethics and science.” White House adviser Dan Bartlett told the press that “The president continues to meet with people with varying opinions and perspectives on this issue and will do so until he feels comfortable to make a decision.”
Also yesterday Population Research Institute President Steven Mosher praised those GOP leaders who spoke out in favour of ethical stem cell research. “They have shown strong support for ethical adult stem cell research, which generates greater actual benefit than utilitarian alternatives based upon scientifically unsubstantiated promises,” he said. Mosher also lamented the fate of what he called “'America's frozen population,' a micro-minority viewed as a cash crop by an industry of death for utilitarian purposes. Ethical research does not produce such deadly discrimination.” “With respect to family planning,” Mosher said, “the generation of human embryos, for procreation and experimentation, has far-reaching social consequences. In-vitro fertilization (IVF) relegates progeny to the status of disposable property. We should not be throwing away human beings like used tissue paper.”
Today, Focus on the Family President Dr. James C. Dobson spoke out against embryonic stem cell research saying, “the lives of countless tiny babies, called embryos are at stake.” Dobson, heard by 7.5 million listeners each week, called on his listeners to contact the president and their congressional representatives to urge them to oppose federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. “The White House seems to be leaning toward approving funding for [embryonic] stem cell research—despite the fact that the President has said that he is unequivocally pro-life,” said Dobson. “This would be a major departure from his campaign promises if he changes direction in this vitally important debate.”