Posted on 07/30/2005 5:52:31 AM PDT by 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."
With "dignity and respect" was the way Terri Schiavo was put to death. Americans better wake up pretty soon to the fact that our society has been taken over by the culture of death. People turned from God and embraced the god of death, satan.Just read the Book of Revelations and see if you don't find destroyed America as the fallen harlot.
I resent my tax dollars being used to support embryonic stem cell research. that being said, Mr Frist, as a physician, knows that adult and cord blood stem cells are showing great promise. Why not continue with these cells? Research on embryonic cells is not very promising..producing tumors in mice.
If any Senator did so, I would expect it of Senator Brownback. Good for him. However, the media is very dismissive of Senator Brownback(their fault, not his). He is not important in their scheme of things. Most of what he says and does is ignored. Tom Delay is the House Majority Leader. Where is a Senator of importance, name recognition and clout, who reacted appropriately to Frist? That's all I'm asking. But thanks for pointing out the Brownback quote...
Cardinal Mahony's rag. As a fellow catholic residing in another diocese run by an ultra liberal (they are shrinking in number), you have my sympathies. Perhaps not in our lifetime but soon enough, these pastors will be put out to pasture and replaced with more orthodox bishops.
“There are virtually no legal prohibitions on many radical areas of biotechnology. There are no limits on human cloning, no limits on fetal farming, no limits on the creation of man-animal hybrids, and no limits on the creation of human embryos solely for research and destruction. It is in this rather permissive moral and legal climate that Frist seeks to remove one of the few public boundaries that still exist.”
There you have it.
What did Senator Frist think this human embryo controversy was: the equivalent of a Highway Appropriation Bill, where he could work the ol' compromise magic and have it all come out quite satisfactory in the end?
Here's the issue: is it OK to do life-destroying procedures on non-consenting human experimental subjects? Yes or no?
This sort of question does not accommodate compromise. You might as well be choosing between Josef Mengele and Mother Teresa.
We’re not talking here about goods and services, commodities, “things.” We’re talking about the value of human life. The difference between one option and the other is not like $24.5 million vs. $66.2 million. It’s the difference between zero and infinity.
It seems to me that this is getting worse, not better. Now they have found out that embryonic stem cells do not keep reproducing indefinately but degrade in five generations. They say, therefore, that they need more. Well, they are going to need millions to treat all those diseased people they keep promising. Where are they going to get those millions of blastocysts; from whose eggs?
Just so. I'm reminded of attorney Felos saying how beautiful she looked, as she died of hunger and dehydration. They'll call black white and say down is up, like the Liar they worship.
I posted Frist's response to my letter about Terri. Same incoherence and illogic.
Did you see him in the news conference with Diane Feinstein smugly standing behind him smiling and nodding as he capitulated?
Why is it that when there is any kind of bipartisan accord, it's the GOP jumping on with a Leftist agenda but, not the other way around?
Weldon is solid.....he stands by his convictions.
He is probably livid right now at what Frist has done.
He too is a doctor here in my town, and a very good one with an excellent reputation.
I cannot, for the life of me figure it out. But, based on Frist's flip flop on stem cell along side his response to me on Terri Schiavo (upthread), I must conclude that he has a shaky moral formation. He may have a good heart, but he seems to be able to rationalize a way to tiptoe across certain lines.
Ramesh Ponnuru on National Review called his statement "a train wreck of illogic."
May be that; or maybe, just the Stupid Party on parade again. It looks like we could be set for another "Perot Moment" in '08.
Not with Ross; but there is going to be a vacuum that needs filling.
An outstanding and supremely eloquent post. Nice work.
A frightening prospect indeed.
I don't think you read the article... The pro-death talking points you espouse might be better received on DU
I am still digesting exactly what Frist is doing -on its face it appears he has gone over to the dark side...
I am having the hardest time trying to maintain charity here. I want to tell Frist to his face... nevermind, I don't wnat to get banned. I AM LIVID!
Here is a good link from the Coalition of Americans for Research Ethics concerning the advantage and benefits of adult stem cells. LINK
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