Embryonic stem-cell research 'crime against life,' Kansas bishops say

Published: 2007-03-19

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- In an effort to counter moves toward government approval and funding of embryonic stem-cell research in Kansas, the state's Catholic bishops said such research is "a crime against life" that compromises all of society without achieving any beneficial health effects. In a pastoral letter on "The Exorbitant Price of Embryonic Stem-Cell Research," the heads of Kansas' four Catholic dioceses sought to refute various arguments advanced in favor of research involving the destruction of human embryos. "It is never morally permissible to destroy one human life even if it is done in the hope of benefiting other human beings," they said. "Laws intended to sanction embryonic stem-cell research are immoral because they give legal protection to the violation of the most fundamental of all human rights." The bishops described their pastoral letter as an effort to provide "clarity amidst the confusion" about embryonic stem-cell research. They stressed the distinction between research that destroys embryos and other stem-cell research using cells obtained from adult tissue, umbilical-cord blood "and other sources that pose no moral problems."

Copyright (c) 2007 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .