Stem Cell Research.
The debate on stem cell research is becoming so political that the readers of newspapers cannot find any accurate analysis of this confusing topic. A recent article in the Central California Catholic Life newspaper of September 17, 2006, had an interesting headline: “President Bush was right…Scientifically and Morally." The article, written by Edmund C. Hurlbutt pointed out how President Bush endured much scorn from America’s self-appointed elite when he vetoed federal funding of embryonic stem cell research.
There are three types of stem cell research: embryonic, umbilical cord, and adult. Embryonic is the method that basically destroys a human being to get the stem cells. Adult and umbilical cord stem cells are already being used to treat or even cure some 65 different afflictions, according to the publication. The article continues to point out that embryonic stem cell research has produced exactly nothing. Not one cure, not one treatment regiment has emerged from it. Ripped from the context of the living body, embryonic cells grow wildly and haphazardly and tumors have resulted from implanting embryonic stems cells in some people. We do not want trading in embryonic stems cells to become a modern form of slave marketing.
It is difficult to explain why the liberal press and the Hollywood elites are so in favor of embryonic research when they have no real facts or research to explain their position. In the August 24,2004 New York Times, science writer Gina Kolata claimed that no one had succeeded in using adult stem cells “to treat diseases” (Source Ann Coulter). A short list of the successful treatments achieved by adult stem cells (according to Coulter) Are these: Repairing spinal cord injuries, reversing Type 1 diabetes, Putting Crohn’s Disease and Lupus into remission, repairing heart muscles using stem cells from the patient’s own blood stem cells. There are many more examples and the reader can peruse Ann Coulter’s book on pages 195-198. “Godless”.
It appears that there is great promise for stem cell research but as far as the case for embryonic research is concerned, why should the Federal Government fund this type of research which promotes abortion?
Gary E. Marsella