Stem Cell Research

Resources:

Stem Cell Research

Technological advances in science and medicine hold great promise for our future. Curing disease, preventing illness, and otherwise improving our quality of life are all noble ends. Recent research, however, is questionable not in its intentions or in the ends it seeks, but in the means used to reach the stated goals. The Church encourages efforts to promote human flourishing, but not at the expense of the most defenseless of human lives.
            Embryonic stem cell research, which involves the killing of human embryos at their earliest stage of development, is a direct offence against life, preying on the most innocent humans that exist. These humans are so early in their development that we cannot even see them with the naked eye, yet we are called to protect these “unseen” persons and promote their dignity by not using them as object for experimental treatments or as means to an end.

The US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is running a Campaign to end embryonic stem-cell research. You can access their information here. The campaign seeks not only to end embryonic stem-cell research, but seeks to promote adult stem cell research, an ethically acceptable practice that holds as much promise as research with embryonic stem-cells.

On the Bishops’ website, you can find out what an embryo is
            Or, you can read testimony presented to Congress against embryonic stem-cell research
            Or, you can see what most Americans think about embryonic stem-cell research.