Posted on 05/29/2005 8:07:09 PM PDT by murphE
Proponents spin, hype and oversell embryonic stem cell facts and myths
True or False? The Catholic Church opposes stem cell research. In the high stakes debate over this emerging therapy the answer to that question, says Father Tadeusz Pacholczyk, is not necessarily obvious.
“We must discriminate the truth claims from all the hype that’s out there,” said Father Pacholczyk, a bioethicist who earned a Ph.D. in neuroscience at Yale University and currently serves as director of education for the National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia.
Invited to address the Washington Catholic Medical Association’s annual spring meeting in Seattle last week, Father Pacholczyk said it is not always easy to cut through the spin and overselling associated with stem cell claims.
The Catholic Church opposes the destruction of human embryos for stem cell research. Father Pacholczyk points out, however, that embryos are only one source of stem cells.
The reason stem cell research is so important – and subject to so much hype -- is that stem cells can replace or heal damaged tissue and cells in the body to cure a variety of diseases. Father Pacholczyk said the Church does not oppose research using stem cells provided they come from sources that do not require the destruction of human embryos.
Options, disadvantages downplayed Stem cells can be taken from umbilical cords, the placenta, amniotic fluid, adult tissues and organs such as bone marrow, fat from liposuction, regions of the nose and even cadavers up to 20 hours after death, he said
The reason embryonic stem cells are so attractive to researchers is that they can be used to create an endless source of “blank” cells that appear to have the potential for making any other cell. Taken from in vitro fertilization clinics, embryonic stem cells can be kept alive forever under the right conditions, Father Pacholczyk said.
What is not commonly known is how difficult it is to achieve the desired results and the likelihood that stem cells from a random embryo “donor” will be rejected after transplantation. These disadvantages and the moral objections raised by the Church do not apply to adult-type stem cell lines.
While acknowledging that adult stem cells lack the ready availability, immortality and flexibility of their embryonic counterparts, Father Pacholczyk said more than 90 diseases may be treated or even cured using adult stem cells. No disease, on the other hand, has ever been successfully treated using embryonic stem cells, he said.
Public funding debate In Seattle this week, a group of University of Washington scientists proposed lifting a federal funding moratorium for embryonic stem cell research. While many Americans believe that federal law prohibits destruction of human embryos for research, the fact is that embryonic stem cell research is legal “as long as you use your own money,” said Father Pacholczyk.
Federal funding for research that would destroy human embryos has been prohibited since 1996 when Congress passed the Dickey Amendment during the Clinton Administration. President Bush relaxed this restriction by permitting research on embryonic stem cell lines that had been created prior to Aug. 9, 2001.
“It is not necessary to invest hundreds of millions or even billions of dollars in a highly speculative and morally problematic project when we have remarkable breakthroughs occurring through the use of adult stem cells,” Father Pacholczyk said. “We stand on the cusp of a new era of regenerative medicine thanks not to embryonic stem cell research but to research using adult stem cells.”
Father Pacholczyk said claims by the University of Washington researchers that a significant part of the state economy or biotech industry depends on the destruction of human embryos were similar to claims by other proponents of embryonic stem cell research. “That’s simply not accurate from a fiscal point of view,” he said. “The first question is the moral one. If this is immoral research, it shouldn’t be happening within the confines of Washington State.”
ping
It sounds like the Catholic Church is okay with Adult Stem Cell research.
I am glad someone finally explained the difference between Adult Stem Cells and embryonic stem cells.
It sounds like the Catholic Church is okay with Adult Stem Cell research.
I am glad someone finally explained the difference between Adult Stem Cells and embryonic stem cells to the Catholic Church
The Truth About Stem Cell Research
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1410722/posts
I am glad someone finally explained the difference between Adult Stem Cells and embryonic stem cells to the Catholic Church
Were you being facetious or sarcastic? Catholic media have long reported on the successes achieved with adult stem cells. The Church never opposed using adult stem cells. It's opposition was always to embryonic stem cells. You imply that the Church opposed both and only now is getting on board. Unless you did not mean what you wrote literally your implication is grossly mistaken and offensive to informed Catholics.
Catholics have been at the forefront of this issue from the get-go. Why imply anything otherwise?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.