Por qu� la Iglesia se opone a la investigaci�n con c�lulas madres de embriones humanos
Monday, March 30, 2009
*Father Alfred Cioffi
El 9 de marzo del 2009, el Presidente Barack Obama firm� una orden ejecutiva permitiendo que se usen fondos federales para la investigaci�n con c�lulas madre de embriones humanos.
La Iglesia Cat�lica ha declarado que la investigaci�n con c�lulas madre de embriones humanos es sumamente inmoral ya que, sobre todo, destruye embriones humanos vivos. Aunque estos embriones est�n congelados en cl�nicas de fertilizaci�n in vitro, ha de entenderse que est�n vivos, en animaci�n suspendida.
En septiembre del 2006, el Papa Benedicto XVI, dirigi�ndose a los participantes de un simposio sobre c�lulas madre, dijo:
En estos casos la investigaci�n [con c�lulas madre embri�nicas], prescindiendo de los resultados de utilidad terap�utica, no se pone verdaderamente al servicio de la humanidad, pues implica la supresi�n de vidas humanas que tienen igual dignidad que los dem�s individuos humanos y que los investigadores. La historia misma ha condenado en el pasado y condenar� en el futuro esa ciencia, no s�lo porque est� privada de la luz de Dios, sino tambi�n porque est� privada de humanidad. (Academia Pontificia para la Vida, 16 septiembre, 2006)
Y en diciembre del 2008, la Congregaci�n para la Doctrina de la Fe del Vaticano public� una Instrucci�n sobre temas bio�ticos actuales (Dignitas personae, DV). Respecto a las c�lulas madre embri�nicas, esta declara: �Por el contrario, la extracci�n de c�lulas troncales [madre] del embri�n humano viviente causa inevitablemente su destrucci�n, resultando por consiguiente gravemente il�cita.� (DV 32)
Un ulterior agravio resulta cuando fondos p�blicos son utilizados para dicha investigaci�n, ya que esto coacciona a la poblaci�n estadounidense a cooperar con este grave mal moral. Millones de estadounidenses se han declarado a favor de que la vida humana comienza en el momento de la concepci�n, y por lo tanto encuentran muy ofensivo la investigaci�n destructiva de embriones. Entonces, el usar nuestros impuestos para tal investigaci�n significa ignorar la voz de millones de nosotros, los cuales queremos ser incluidos en el gran proceso democr�tico de di�logo y representaci�n.
Sin embargo, la Iglesia Cat�lica no se opone a todo tipo de investigaci�n con c�lulas madre. De hecho, fuentes �ticas de c�lulas madre son: c�lulas madre �adultas� (de diferentes �rganos y tejidos del cuerpo, como la m�dula �sea, la sangre, tejido adiposo, tejido interno de la nariz, pulpa en los dientes l�cteos), del cord�n umbilical y la placenta (una vez nacido el beb�), y c�lulas madre pluripotenciales inducidas (c�lulas iPS, que se obtienen re-programando c�lulas normales de la piel). Una gran ventaja del usar c�lulas madre adultas es que se pueden obtener del mismo paciente, y as� evitar el rechazo inmunol�gico que ocurre con c�lulas madre embri�nicas. Por otro lado, una gran desventaja del usar c�lulas madre embri�nicas es que, t�picamente, producen tumores en los animales de laboratorio donde se han probado; invariablemente, crecen incontroladamente. Y finalmente, la �rden ejecutiva del Presidente hasta desv�a fondos p�blicos de la exitosa investigaci�n con c�lulas madre adultas, para usarlos en las embri�nicas.
Por lo tanto, todo Cat�lico, y toda persona de buena voluntad, es exhortada a escribir una carta al Presidente Obama, pidi�ndole que reconsidere su orden ejecutiva de c�lulas madre en vista a las razones presentadas aqu�.
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