N.Y. State Catholic Conference criticizes state budget decisions

Published: 2007-04-03

ALBANY, N.Y. (CNS) -- The New York State Catholic Conference sharply criticized the state Legislature and administration for deciding to spend $600 million on life sciences research aimed chiefly at human embryonic stem-cell research. It also criticized Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver for blocking a bill, backed by the governor and the state Senate, that would have given a $1,000 tuition deduction on state taxes for parents of children in nonpublic schools. Richard E. Barnes, Catholic conference executive director, called the passage of the bill for human embryonic stem-cell research "fiscally irresponsible and morally indefensible." "For the first time, the state of New York will be directly funding research that kills innocent human life," he said. "Furthermore, New York taxpayers will now fund human cloning research aimed at creating new embryos to kill. ... This is a tragic moment for New York state." The Legislature did not enact a companion $1.5 billion bond act for such research, which would have been subject to voter approval in November 2008. Poust said that while the bond proposal is dead in the current legislative session, it could be revived next year and still meet deadlines for a popular vote in the fall of 2008.

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 The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in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 .