Cardinal (Keeler) Criticizes Sen. Bill Frist

NewsMax ^ | July 29, 2005

[NYer]

Cardinal William H. Keeler, chairman of the U.S. Bishops' Committee for Pro-life Activities, criticized Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist's announcement today that he will support federally funded stem cell research that requires destroying human embryos.

Cardinal Keeler's statement follows.

* * * * *

"Today Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist announced he will support using federal funds to encourage the destruction of living human embryos for their stem cells. Despite the Senator's disclaimers to the contrary, this position is not 'pro-life.'

"Especially disturbing is the Senator's insistence that human embryos unwanted by their own parents are owed 'the same dignity and respect' as children and adults, but may nevertheless be killed for research material.

"Such destruction of innocent human life, even out of a desire to help others, rests on a utilitarian view that undermines human dignity and human respect, as Senator Sam Brownback ably pointed out today in his response.

"Senator Frist's effort to make an analogy with organ transplants also fails, because it would be gravely immoral as well as illegal to harvest any patient's vital organs when he or she is still alive.

"Despite his warning against offering 'false hope' to patients, Senator Frist also repeated claims that are untrue or misleading about the unique 'promise' of embryonic stem cells. No one has identified any disease that can be treated only with these cells; no one even knows whether they will ever provide a safe and reliable treatment for the conditions already being successfully treated using adult stem cells.

"These factual issues will no doubt be explored by others. My own central concern is that neither sound ethics nor good government can rest on the principle that 'the end justifies the means.' I commend President Bush for his laudable pledge to veto such legislation."

[NYer]

Catholic Ping
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[NYer]

Ping!

[newsgatherer]

For more on frist.

[Bahbah]

No one has identified any disease that can be treated only with these cells; no one even knows whether they will ever provide a safe and reliable treatment for the conditions already being successfully treated using adult stem cells.

Senator Frist's position is deeply disappointing.

[SerpentDove]

If Frist did this to enhance his chances for the Presidency, I don't think I've seen a much bigger miscalculation.

[starfish923]

If Frist did this to enhance his chances for the Presidency, I don't think I've seen a much bigger miscalculation.

That is for sure.

[mware]

What is so disappointing is the fact that he is a doctor and knows that embryonic stem cells are not being used in clinical studies anywhere.

Adult stem cells are used however in over 65 clinical studies and are saving thousands of lives.

I did see a group of senators including Delay and Weldon of Florida who stood firm on opposing embryonic stem cell funding.

[starfish923]

There are NOW so many abortions, federally funded, that this just ontinues to send the wrong message, that is, life is cheap in the U.S.A. and that there is NO protection for the unbotn.

The unborn-killers use the phrase "born in America" as their mantra. Anyone "less" than that is simply a piece of meat.

That is, of course, unless some male kills a pregnant woman. Then, the woman says it was her BABY, not a piece of meat. He goes to prison for killing her unborn baby--not for assault.

The baby-killers and hypcrites DO HAVE IT BOTH WAYS, thanks to judges who have their collective head up their butts in the sand.

[Sybeck1]

This is just modern day cannibalism.

[big'ol_freeper]

Ping

[AKA Elena]

Calling my frustration, anger and depression at Senator Frist's turnaround on this issue "disappointing" would be a gross misstatement.

He has to know that there has been and is no foreseeable scientific good that will come of this ... because I have seen educated reports myself indicating the reverse may be true (there may be more harm in this murder and use than good). His speech in favor of some speculative cures for any diseases through this human sacrifice was/is patently untrue.

I felt so terrible for the responder I heard (a woman with Parkinsons), whose praise of him for his change in attitude and so saddened by the unfounded hope I heard in her voice, that I was physically ill.

May He Who is the Creator of life have mercy on all of us.

[Graymatter]

"Especially disturbing is the Senator's insistence that human embryos unwanted by their own parents are owed 'the same dignity and respect' as children and adults, but may nevertheless be killed for research material.

I'm beyond disappointed. If someone proposed to kill me and insisted it was going to be done, in the name of research, with "dignity and respect," I would call that person evil or insane.

[Salvation]

**but may nevertheless be killed for research material. **

Good job, Cardinal Keeler!

[pieces of time]

Good for Cardinal Keeler.
It stunning that "rational" Doctors and Scientists think that experimentation on these human beings is different than the horrors that occurred under Hitler.

[SaltyJoe]

How could he do such a thing? Don't these politicians have advisers to warn them against such a miscalculated move? Did he think that Pro-Lifers were just kidding about unborn children?

Drop the cool-aid Frist, the sugar is poisoned. Hit the cappuccino, wake up and smell the coffee. Find a Cappuccino and get an exorcism. Your "base" has just dropped out from under your feet.

Remember the "read my lips" speech by George Bush Sr.?

Remember potential Democrat voters aborted before the Presidential elections 2000 and 2004?

Frist, you're proposing the murder of your own party's future voters. If you and other Republicans think that you can walk down this path, you'll lose to Democrats that have switched sides of recognizing, honoring, and protecting Human life the way other "minority" groups have historically dropped the Republican ticket.

Killing humans ruins a politicians job security. You've just joined ranks with the guy you replaced...what's his name. Now, we can use you as an example similar to Trent Lott. Hope your bait and switch tactic was worth your political career. There are millions, er, 100s of thousands, er, thousands of diminishing abortionists leftists Democrats that willingly embrace your fall into darkness....

Unless you'd like us to show you what real Reconciliation is. Come back to the Light before it's too late.

[sitetest]

Pretty good, Cardinal Keeler.

Late life conversion?

[Aunt Polgara]

As a Catholic, I both applaud and decry Cardinal Keeler's remarks.

I applaud them because they are absolutely spot on.

I decry them because how often do we see our American Catholic bishops go after the Democrats with the same fervor on the life issues?

Here in Los Angeles awhile back, our diocesan newspaper spent a whole page applauding 2 pro-life democrat legislators, with nary a word for the many, many GOP pro-lifers.

[txrangerette]

Delay and Weldon are members of the House, not the Senate. They are not peers of Senator Frist. Of course I am glad they came out publically and stood firm for the pro-life position. But where are the conservative Senators doing the same? Not saying none of them have, but I am not aware if they have.

[gbcdoj]

But where are the conservative Senators doing the same? Not saying none of them have, but I am not aware if they have.

From the OP: "Such destruction of innocent human life, even out of a desire to help others, rests on a utilitarian view that undermines human dignity and human respect, as Senator Sam Brownback ably pointed out today in his response."