Posted on 06/01/2007 9:35:19 AM PDT by NYer
Describing himself as a "very dedicated Catholic", California Governor Arnold Schhwarzenegger is backing stem cell research initiatives, saying that religion should not interfere with government policy.
The Star reports that Governor Schwarzenegger is attempting to stare down anti-abortion opponents of stem-cell research with a warning to leave religion out of politics and health.
Schwarzenegger, in Toronto to sign accords with Premier Dalton McGuinty on collaborating with Ontario to fight cancer and curb climate change, said saving lives is paramount.
"I always said that you should not have your religion interfere with government policies or with the policies of the people," the former action film superstar turned politician told hundreds of people at the MaRS Discovery District research centre.
"I am a Catholic and a very dedicated Catholic, but that does not interfere with my decision-making because I know that stem cell research, the way we are doing it in California ... is the right way to go and will save, very quickly down the line, lives and cure a lot of these illnesses," he said.
After signing a deal with McGuinty for a new joint research initiative between California and Ontario scientists, Schwarzenegger recounted his personal interest in the subject.
"I have a father-in-law, Sargent Shriver, who has Alzheimer's," he said of the 91-year-old husband of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, sister of late US president John F Kennedy.
"Now, Sargent Shriver, I'll tell you was one of the most brilliant minds in the world. He was working under the Johnson administration, the Kennedy administration, started the Peace Corps, the Jobs Corps, like I said, brilliant, brilliant," the governor said.
"Today, he does not even recognise his wife," he said. "Alzheimer's is a terrible disease and this is why I am so very passionate about supporting (research)."
Abortion foes are against stem-cell research because microscopic embryos, usually donated by fertility clinics, are destroyed in the process.
McGuinty, a fellow Catholic praised by Schwarzenegger for his "fantastic" support for the research, said he understood those with religious or ethical concerns.
"I would argue ... there's one moral imperative that transcends all faiths, all culture and all traditions, it would be this fundamental desire to relieve pain and suffering and death where we find it," said the premier, who announced $30 million from the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research will be earmarked for the Cancer Stem Cell Consortium of researchers here and in California.
"I'm confident we can strike the right balance between respecting people's sensitivities and ... we have some laws in the books here in Canada that ensure that."
SOURCE
Terminator gunning to save lives (The Star, 31/5/07)
I wish these people would just declare themselves pagans or atheists or navel-gazers or ANYTHING other than Catholic. It's embarrassing to see them popping up in the news to deny their faith at every chance.
Disturbing.
A log cabin republican dedicated Catholic?
???
“Now, Sargent Shriver, I’ll tell you was one of the most brilliant minds in the world. He was working under the Johnson administration, the Kennedy administration, started the Peace Corps, the Jobs Corps, like I said, brilliant, brilliant,” the governor said.
“Today, he does not even recognise his wife,” he said. “Alzheimer’s is a terrible disease and this is why I am so very passionate about supporting (research).”
We are ALL going to die Arnold....even your annointed family members......SHEESH
I think they might be surprised when the time comes that the title Catholic is meaningless, only wheat and chaff.
Try telling that to the anti-death penalty folks.
“”Describing himself as a “very dedicated Catholic”, California Governor Arnold Schhwarzenegger is backing stem cell research initiatives, saying that religion should not interfere with government policy.””
Most of history’s despots (including Adolph- a not-so-dedicated Catholic) would certainly agree with you Arnold.
A quote from one of those religious types who continually meddled in Government Affairs.
George Washington.
but
His statement strikes me as strange.
Most Catholics I talk to consider themselves “devout” not “dedicated”.
So let me ask the Freeper Catholics out there, am I off base here or is this odd?
What can you expect from a guy with a Kennedy whispering in each ear?
The Austrian Girlie Man is a Post-Partisan Catholic.
You are right, it’s usually ‘devout’ Catholic.
‘Dedicated catholic’ isn’t wrong, but it’s a little offbase. A wordsmith like Arnie’s speechwriter might have chosen it instead of devout as it sounds more heroic, I guess.
Stem cells are not going to help the small percentage of Alzheimer’s patients who brought it on themselves by heavy drinking of alcohol all their lives. Like certain members of the Kennedy Gang.
Arnie you are off base. This is a false political wasteland. Please reconsider. Don’t be a dope for votes. Your soul is worth way more than this.
Forget religion; how about using common sense? Adult stem cells have been shown to be useful in treating diseases, without the deliterious side effects of embryonic stem cells, such as runaway tumor growth. Why not put some money into THAT effort? There is an endless supply, since every human has his or her own ‘adult’ stem cells than can be used, and by doing so, will make unnecessary the use of drugs to treat possible rejection of ‘foreign’ cells in the body.
Yep, I'm not Catholic and I agree completely.
And even if I weren't moral, I'd have to question the santity of pumping government funds into embryonic stem cell research which private investment avoids for the simple reason that it shows little promise of producing the benefits achieved by adult stem-cell research.
It is nothing more than a raw political power gesture to rub the faces of pro-life people in the dirt.
Catholic Schwarzenegger should ask to be excommunicated so his fellow Catholics aren't tainted with his ilk.
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