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Stem Cells Does Their Origin Matter? Preserving life—it is extremely important in the Christian faith. But what is the biblical definition of life, and how does this definition affect stem cell research?God clearly commands in Exodus 20:13: “You shall not murder [the intentional, predatory killing of another]” (NIV; see also Matthew 19:18; Romans 13:9). A big controversy today is that of determining when life begins. In the field of embryonic stem cell research (ESCR), this determination is especially crucial. Because technology is advancing faster than society’s ethics, we are left to solve such dilemmas in the midst of active...

VATICAN CITY: The Vatican's newspaper is reiterating Catholic teaching that embryonic stem cell research is immoral as President Barack Obama prepares to lift a federal funding limit on such work. L'Osservatore Romano wrote Saturday that such research in the eyes of the Catholic church is "deeply immoral" and lamented that U.S. taxpayers' money will help fund embryonic stem cell research. Catholic teaching holds that life begins at conception and opposes research involving destruction of human embryos. The Vatican's newspaper quoted from a condemnation issued last year by U.S. bishops who expressed worry that there will be "no stopping point" if...

WASHINGTON (JTA) -- Jewish groups applauded President Obama's decision to lift the executive order restricting federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. "We wholeheartedly thank President Obama for his action on this important issue," Hadassah national president Nancy Falchuk said of Monday's decision. "Those suffering from debilitating diseases and disorders for which stem cell research holds great promise now have a renewed sense of hope, and we are optimistic for the future of embyronic stem cell research." Falchuk also urged Congress to "continue working on this issue" so that federal funds are "completely accessible" for such research. The Orthodox Union...

Yes, Bill Plante did acknowledge that the stem cell issue has “deep moral and political implications.” And yes, we did hear from a representative of the Family Research Council speaking in opposition to Pres. Obama’s decision to lift the Bush-era ban on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. But that said, was it right for the Early Show to air the most inflammatory possible accusation against Pres. Bush? Recounting the story of a young boy who died of a rare and fatal genetic disease Plante stated that the boy’s parents: “believe their son’s chance of survival ended when President...

“As a former Jesuit friend of mine said to me once, you know you shouldn’t necessarily confuse the official positions of Rome with what it means to be a person of faith, with what it means to be a Catholic.” That’s David Iverson, explaining on Good Morning America today why even as a church-attending Catholic he supports Pres. Obama’s decision to overturn the Bush-era ban on federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. Introducing the segment, co-anchor Kate Snow did note that the decision was controversial, as later did reporter Lisa Stark, and we heard from Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Ok.)...

Fresh off bailouts of the auto industry and big government, President Barack Obama is signaling that he’s still in the mood for giveaways. This time he wants to give away American taxpayers’ money to bail out the failing embryonic stem cell research industry. Recently, Obama offered his “guarantee” that he would soon sign an executive order lifting limits on federal funding of embryonic stem cell research (ESCR). But the only thing forcing taxpayers to fund unproven, life-destroying research will “guarantee” is a refueling of the culture wars Obama spent an entire campaign pledging to extinguish. As with most issues related...

Brave New Pedagogues by: Malcolm A. Kline, February 11, 2009 Academics pride themselves on dreaming up the cutting edge ideas that govern us. That might not be a good thing. They frequently do so without any grave concern about the evidence behind their theories or any regard for the ethical problems inherent in adopting them. Thus, the Ivory Tower is a bastion of support for embryonic stem cell research even though thus far, it has been an abysmal failure and interfering with the creative process of birth is something that you will have to explain to the creator someday. “Stanford...

A bill to remove South Dakota’s restrictions against embryonic stem cell research was introduced yesterday in the state senate. SB 195 would strike from SDCL 34-14 the language prohibiting human embryos from being used for research.  The bill was sponsored by Senators Nesselhuf, Adelstein, Nelson, and Turbak Berry and Representatives Engels, Blake, Cutler, Dreyer, Hoffman, Hunhoff (Bernie), McLaughlin, and Street. We knew this was coming for some time now. Last summer the Argus Leader ran an article about Sanford Health in Sioux Falls under the heading “Sanford eyes stem cell study.”In that article we read A new donation from philanthropist T. Denny...

www.catholicnewsagency.com Stem cells developed in Brazil without need of embryos Brasilia, Feb 5, 2009 / 08:02 pm (CNA).- Brazilian media reported this week that at least five groups of scientists are developing stem cells without using human embryos, thanks to a technique that uses human pluripotent stem cells (iPS) being developed in United States, Germany, Japan and China. At the end of January, a group of scientists led by Stevens Rehen of the Institute of Biomedical Sciences of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, and Martin Bonamino of the Division of Experimental Medicine of the National Institute of...

Strategy for creating pluripotent cells called into question.The creation of human?animal hybrid embryos ? proposed as a way to generate embryonic stem cells without relying on scarce human eggs ? has met with legislative hurdles and public outcry. But a paper published this week suggests that the approach has another, more fundamental problem: it may simply not work. Robert Lanza of Advanced Cell Technology, a stem-cell company based in Los Angeles, California, and his colleagues show that in their labs, early-stage human?cow, human?mouse and human?rabbit hybrid embryos fail to grow beyond 16 cells (Y. Chung et al. Cloning Stem Cells...

Geron Corp gained federal permission this week to engage in using Human guinea pigs to study using Human embryonic stem cells for the treatment of spinal injury.... In Portugal, Dr. Carlos Lima has succeeded in using ADULT Stem Cells for spinal repair....”

Central Texans could soon be among some of the first people in the country to get relief from conditions ranging from diabetes to knee injuries through adult stem cell therapy. Scott & White health system, in conjunction with the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, recently recruited a team of scientists who are conducting pioneering research using stem cells gleaned from adults’ bone marrow. The team’s focus is to bring the benefits of stem cell therapy from the laboratory to patients, said Dr. Darwin J. Prockop, who heads up the group. Clinical trials involving diabetes patients are scheduled...

I received this press release from the Center for Inquiry (CFI), a group that grew out of the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (or CSICOP). I receive these kinds of things daily from groups hoping I will publicize their causes. In this case, I decided to comply. E-mail: nbupp@centerforinquiry.net Center for Inquiry Calls Vatican’s Position on Biomedical Technology Deplorable and Scientifically Insupportable Amherst, New York (December 12, 2008)—In a move designed to firm up faith-based opposition to embryonic stem cell research and other cutting-edge biomedical technologies, the Vatican has released a 32-page document titled “Dignitas...

President-elect Barack Obama says he thinks it’s ethical to use embryos that would otherwise be destroyed for research into illnesses. From the Associated Press: When the Bush presidency ends, opponents of embryonic stem cell research will face a new political reality that many feel powerless to stop. President-elect Barack Obama is expected to lift restrictions on federal money for such research. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., also has expressed interest in going ahead with legislation in the first 100 days of the new Congress if it still is necessary to set up a regulatory framework. “We may lose it, but...

The Vatican has fired a warning shot over the bows of Barack Obama in response to the President-elect's intention to lift the US ban on embryonic stem cell research. Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan of Mexico, who acts as the Vatican health minister, said that stem cells taken from human embryos and involving the destruction of the embryos "serve no purpose". Asked whether the Vatican was concerned about reports that Mr Obama might reverse the Bush Administration's ban, the cardinal said that embryonic stem cell research had not resulted in any significant health cure so far and was "good for nothing"....

Obama's Transition Focuses on Reassuring the Middle Class So far, Obama and aides have gone out of their way to maintain support from the key group By Kenneth T. Walsh Posted November 10, 2008 It's all about reassurance. John Podesta, cochair of Obama's transition organization, said the new administration is reviewing President Bush's executive orders on oil and gas drilling, stem cell research, and other issues for possible reversal. The new administration's moves are likely to please environmentalists, stem cell research advocates, and other groups that have been critical of George W. Bush's policies. Podesta told Fox News that Obama...

Washington, DC -- Members of the team Barack Obama has put together confirmed over the weekend that the incoming president will immediately overturn executive orders President Bush put in place as soon as possible after he takes office. The Bush orders have protected taxpayers on key pro-life issues. Obama would overturn a Bush policy that prevents forcing taxpayers to fund groups that perform or promote abortions in other countries. Obama would also overturn President Bush's policy against funding any new embryonic stem cell research.

Transition advisers to President-elect Barack Obama have compiled a list of about 200 Bush administration actions and executive orders that could be swiftly undone to reverse White House policies on climate change, stem cell research, reproductive rights and other issues, according to congressional Democrats, campaign aides and experts working with the transition team. A team of four dozen advisers, working for months in virtual solitude, set out to identify regulatory and policy changes Obama could implement soon after his inauguration. The team is now consulting with liberal advocacy groups, Capitol Hill staffers and potential agency chiefs to prioritize those they...

Bishop Earl Boyea of Lansing, Michigan has denounced Governor Jennifer Granholm for her 'shocking' suggestion that a ballot measure allowing embryonic stem-cell research is a 'pro-life' initiative because it could lead to the discovery of medical cures. "To be in favor of Proposal 2 is not to be pro-life," the bishop said. "A well formed Catholic conscience would never lead a person to support Proposal 2 as a Catholic."

Washington, DC -- Barack Obama is running a misleading radio ad on the issue of stem cell research -- falsely accusing presidential candidate John McCain of voting against it. The ad, which features a mother of a child with juvenile diabetes, also ignores how adult stem cell research provides the most hope for patients.