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Roman Catholic Church gives money to defeat stem cell campaign
The Miami Herald ^ | September 9, 2004 | Paul Elias

Posted on 09/09/2004 8:22:53 AM PDT by NYer

SAN FRANCISCO - The Roman Catholic Church and the wealthy evangelical Christian Howard Ahmanson Jr. have emerged as the biggest financial backers of the campaign against a California ballot measure that would fund stem cell research and cloning projects.

Each contributed $50,000 last week to separate campaign groups, bringing the total to $125,000 combined.

Proposition 71 on the Nov. 2 ballot directs the state to borrow $3 billion to pay for the controversial research that scientists say is being hindered by the Bush administration.

Supporters have amassed about $12 million, including a contribution of 22,400 shares of biotechnology giant Amgen Inc. worth more than $1.3 million. The contribution was made by wealthy venture capitalist William Bowes Jr., the founding chairman of Amgen. All told, venture capitalists have contributed more than $3 million to the pro-71 campaign.

Human embryonic stem cells are created in the first days after conception and ultimately turn into all the cells, tissues and organs that comprise the human body. Scientists hope to harness this power to create replacement cells and tissues to treat a wide range of ailments, from diabetes to spinal cord injury.

But many conservatives oppose stem cell research because it destroys embryos.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Philosophy; Politics/Elections; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: 71; ca; california; catholic; catholicchurch; catholicpoliticians; catholicvote; cloning; embryo; evangelical; proposition71; stemcell; stemcells
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1 posted on 09/09/2004 8:22:54 AM PDT by NYer
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To: NYer

Here comes the "separation of church and state" brigade...


2 posted on 09/09/2004 8:23:57 AM PDT by Rutles4Ever ("The message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing...")
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To: american colleen; sinkspur; Lady In Blue; Salvation; narses; SMEDLEYBUTLER; redhead; ...
“Though it is true that sometimes it is lawful to tolerate a lesser moral evil in order to avoid a greater evil or in order to promote a greater good," it is never lawful, even for the gravest reasons, to do evil that good may come of it (18)—in other words, to intend directly something which of its very nature contradicts the moral order, and which must therefore be judged unworthy of man, even though the intention is to protect or promote the welfare of an individual, of a family or of society in general.”
HUMANAE VITAE

Catholic Ping - let me know if you want on/off this list


3 posted on 09/09/2004 8:24:40 AM PDT by NYer (When you have done something good, remember the words "without Me you can do nothing." (John 15:5).)
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To: NYer
Thought I'd help this paper's moronic editors:
But many conservatives oppose EMBRYONIC stem cell research because it destroys embryos.

4 posted on 09/09/2004 8:28:52 AM PDT by avg_freeper (Gunga galunga. Gunga, gunga galunga)
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To: NYer

Pro-life bump!


5 posted on 09/09/2004 8:29:58 AM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: Coleus; cpforlife.org

Pro life ping!


6 posted on 09/09/2004 8:31:29 AM PDT by NYer (When you have done something good, remember the words "without Me you can do nothing." (John 15:5).)
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To: NYer; ElkGroveDan; 2ndMostConservativeBrdMember; afraidfortherepublic; Alas; al_c; ...
Embryo Vivisection and Elusive Promises Act--California Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative

Just say NO to 71

anybody in CA with a ping list?

7 posted on 09/09/2004 10:08:57 AM PDT by Coleus (Brooke Shields killed how many children? http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1178497/posts)
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To: NYer
Proposition 71 on the Nov. 2 ballot directs the state to borrow $3 billion to pay for the controversial research demonic program of vivisection and cannibalism that scientists conscienceless butchers say is being hindered by the Bush administration.
8 posted on 09/09/2004 10:12:45 AM PDT by ArrogantBustard (Western Civilisation is aborting, buggering, and contracepting itself out of existence.)
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To: Coleus

Did you notice all the appearances Christopher Reeve is making here in NJ? McGreevey is rumored to be taking CEO position of that new Stem Cell Research program and Reeves is on tour speaking for Stem Cell Research.


9 posted on 09/09/2004 10:49:28 AM PDT by Calpernia ("People never like what they don't understand")
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To: NYer; ElkGroveDan; farmfriend; Saundra Duffy

what is arnold's position on this issue?


10 posted on 09/09/2004 11:00:02 AM PDT by Coleus (Brooke Shields killed how many children? http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1178497/posts)
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To: Coleus
My understanding is that he has not taken a position on the initiative, though he has said in the past that he supports stem cell research.
11 posted on 09/09/2004 11:03:50 AM PDT by ElkGroveDan (Santorum 2008)
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To: NYer

Just to be clear, are the RCC and Ahmanson in opposition to the President's decision to allow research to continue with "existing lines" of embryonic stem cells?


12 posted on 09/09/2004 11:09:04 AM PDT by k2blader (It is neither compassionate nor conservative to support the expansion of socialism.)
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To: k2blader
Just to be clear, are the RCC and Ahmanson in opposition to the President's decision to allow research to continue with "existing lines" of embryonic stem cells?

The short answer is "yes". However, the issue is far more profound. Perhaps this will provide you with the full perspective.

On August 9, 2001, President George W. Bush announced that he would support limited federal funding of embryonic stem-cell research. It was a controversial decision he had weighed for some months. Catholic leaders, including Pope John Paul II and U.S. bishops, had implored the president to reject such funding. In the end, Bush allowed research funding only for those stem cells that already had been extracted from destroyed embryos. He prohibited further destruction of embryos for stem-cell research.

Although there was a sigh of relief among some religous leaders that the funding was so restricted, the U.S. bishops were quick to condemn the very idea of accommodating the intentional destruction of human embryos for research. Stem-cell research in itself is not wrong, but creating and/or destroying human life in order to "mine" stem cells is, according to Church teaching. (See "Stem-cell Research and Catholic Teaching" and "Is Stem-cell Research Moral?" for more on the question.)

When President George W. Bush met with Pope John Paul II at Castel Gandolfo, Italy, on July 23, 2001, the President was surprised that stem-cell research was on the pope's agenda. Yet the pope sees the United States as pivotal in setting moral social policies worldwide.

The pope exhorted the president to reject embryonic stem-cell research as a practice related to abortion, euthanasia and other assaults on innocent human life: "A free and virtuous society," said the pope, "which America aspires to be, must reject practices that devalue and violate human life at any stage from conception until natural death." (Click here to read the full text of the pope's brief comments related to stem cells.)

After the pope's address, President Bush delivered prepared remarks, applauding Pope John Paul II for carrying, in Mr. Bush's words, "the Gospel of life, which welcomes the stranger and protects the weak and innocent."

13 posted on 09/09/2004 12:20:27 PM PDT by NYer (When you have done something good, remember the words "without Me you can do nothing." (John 15:5).)
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To: 2nd amendment mama; A2J; Agitate; Alouette; Annie03; aposiopetic; Askel5; attagirl; axel f; ...

ProLife Ping!

If anyone wants on or off my ProLife Ping List, please notify me here or by freepmail.

14 posted on 09/09/2004 1:04:59 PM PDT by Mr. Silverback (If the Cambodia "lie" 100% discredits John O'Neill, what do 50 Cambodia lies do for Kerry?)
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To: afnamvet; RonDog; ErnBatavia; BlueNgold; bgcountry187; hyepwrd; CounterCounterCulture; ...

California Freepers, please give this Proposition your attention.


15 posted on 09/09/2004 1:06:02 PM PDT by Mr. Silverback (If the Cambodia "lie" 100% discredits John O'Neill, what do 50 Cambodia lies do for Kerry?)
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To: k2blader

Just to be clear, are the RCC and Ahmanson in opposition to the President's decision to allow research to continue with "existing lines" of embryonic stem cells? >>>

The Catholic Church is against abortion

Catholic Bishops Criticize
Bush Policy on Embryo Research


16 posted on 09/09/2004 1:11:03 PM PDT by Coleus (Brooke Shields killed how many children? http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1178497/posts)
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To: NYer
Isn't there a distinction between embryonic stem cell research and stem cell research from sources other than embryos? Does the RCC condone research in the latter?

I've read that stem cells (not from embryos) are generating successful result in certain diseases, while embryonic cells cause cancerous tumors in mice.

Please clarify. P.S. I'll be working as a sidewalk-counsellor at an abortion mill for the first time this Saturday. Please pray for me.
17 posted on 09/09/2004 1:33:47 PM PDT by Raquel (It's our security - stupid)
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To: NYer; Rutles4Ever; avg_freeper; Salvation
Basic rule of thumb for the morally illiterate:

A=A

A human embryo = a human embryo

18 posted on 09/09/2004 2:08:58 PM PDT by HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity
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To: Mr. Silverback; farmfriend; NormsRevenge; Grampa Dave; RonDog; tubebender; FairOpinion

fyi


19 posted on 09/09/2004 2:24:18 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (A Proud member of Free Republic ~~The New Face of the Fourth Estate since 1996.)
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To: NYer
NO ON 71!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
20 posted on 09/09/2004 3:03:06 PM PDT by afnamvet (USAF Tuy Hoa AFB RVN 68-69 NOT FONDA KERRY!)
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