Why Church opposes embryonic stem cell research
Monday, March 30, 2009
Father Alfred Cioffi
On March 9, 2009, President Barack Obama signed an executive order allowing federal funds to be used for human embryonic stem cell research.
The Catholic Church has declared that human embryonic stem cell research is highly immoral because, above all, it destroys live human embryos. Even if these embryos are frozen in in vitro fertilization (IVF) clinics, it must be realized that they are alive,
in suspended animation.
In September 2006, Pope Benedict XVI, addressing participants in a symposium on stem cells, stated:
Research, in such cases [embryonic stem cell], irrespective of efficacious therapeutic results, is not truly at the service of humanity. In fact, this research advances through the suppression of human lives that are equal in dignity to the lives of other human individuals and to the lives of the researchers themselves. History itself has condemned such a science in the past and will condemn it in the future, not only because it lacks the light of God but also because it lacks humanity. (Pontifical Academy for Life, September 16, 2006)
In December 2008, the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued an “instruction” on current bioethical questions (Dignitas personae, DV). Regarding embryonic stem cell research, it states: “The obtaining of stem cells from a living human embryo, on the other hand, invariably causes the death of the embryo and is consequently gravely illicit.” (DV 32)
A further level of aggravation comes when public funds are released for such research, since that action coerces the American people into cooperating with this grave moral evil. Millions of Americans have declared themselves in favor of human life beginning from the moment of conception, and thus find destructive embryo research highly offensive. To use our tax dollars for such research, then, is to ignore the voice of millions of us who wish to be included in the great democratic process of dialogue and representation.
But the Catholic Church is not opposed to all stem cell research. In fact, ethical sources of stem cells are: ‘adult’ stem cells (from various organs and tissues of the body, such as bone marrow, fat cells, the inner lining of the nose, and the pulp of baby teeth), umbilical cord and placenta stem cells (once the baby is born), and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells, which have been obtained by re-programming normal skin cells). One great advantage of using adult stem cells is that they can be obtained from the patient himself, thus avoiding the immune rejection issue of embryonic stem cells. Conversely, a tremendous disadvantage of using embryonic stem cells is that, typically, they produce tumors in the experimental animals where they have been tried. This is due to the fact that they probably have too much potential; invariably, they grow uncontrollably.
Finally, the president’s executive order diverts public funds away from adult stem cell research, where real cures are already happening.
Every Catholic, and others of good will, is therefore encouraged to write a letter to President Obama asking him to reconsider his stem cell executive order in light of the reasons presented here.
Father Alfred Cioffi
Moral theologian and geneticist
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
Comments from readers
Following up particularly on a couple of questions, briefly, I would like to point out some areas where adult and cord blood stem cells are showing positive results:
Various types of cancer, auto-immune diseases, cardiovascular, ocular, immunodeficiencies, neural degenerative diseases and injuries, anemias and other blood conditions, wounds and injuries, other metabolic disorders, liver disease and bladder disease.
Of course, it is understood that some injuries and diseases are more difficult to treat than others. Still, not a month goes by without a new report of some progress in this expanding field. Currently, there are over 70 different types of injuries and diseases that are being treated with adult or cord blood stem cells, at various stages of development. To this end, I would like to refer our readers to a website that is keeping track of successes in adult and cord blood stem cells: www.stemcellresearch.org. In it, the reader will find a wealth of information on this topic, including the scientific publications to substantiate the claims.
I would like to reiterate, however, that even in the hypothetical scenario that adult and cord blood stem cells yielded no results, the Catholic Church still opposes embryonic stem cell research on the principle that it involves the destruction of live human embryos.
Thank you once again for your comments, and please don�t forget those letters.
Fr. Cioffi
Your unrelenting work in educating the general public as well as the medical profession in the area of stem cell research is commendable. For years, I have known of your passion to move people in the right direction in this issue, and include myself as one of your disciples. Our nation�s president has already taken a position on abortion as well, so that other issues like euthanasia may follow. We need to be alert and ready to act and counteract whenever any of these subject matters are brought out in the open for public discussion.
Pace e Bene, Bernie GG
Thank you for this informative blog. At the end of your entry you say, "Finally, the president�s executive order diverts public funds away from adult stem cell research, where real cures are already happening." I have heard that cures are being found for certain illnesses using adult stem cells. Can you elaborate on that point? What cures have been found? I think that this is important information for Catholics to have. It seems to me that the media is always leading us to believe that the only cures that can be found are from embryonic stem cells.
Thank you!
Your blog gives me an opportunity to thank you publicly for your uncompromising committment to the pro-life position.
It is sad that we have not been able to convince the public that embryonic stem cell reserach is not the only or even the best way to look for solutions to some of the illnesses that threaten so many. Despite the testimony of so many scientists to the contrary, people continue to think that those who oppose embryonic stem cell research don't share their concern about those who are suffering. I hope that our pastors will look for opportunities to explain this to their parishioners through their homilies or the parish bulletins.
Richard