Bishops' official laments Senate move to fund human embryo research

Published: 2007-04-12

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- An official of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops criticized the U.S. Senate's "fixation on destructive research" after the Senate passed a bill that would provide federal funding for stem-cell research involving the destruction of human embryos. "Many members of Congress remain dazzled by irresponsibly hyped promises of 'miracle cures' from the destruction of human embryos, although experts in the field increasingly admit that treatments from this avenue may be decades away," said Richard M. Doerflinger, deputy director of the USCCB's Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities. Doerflinger made his comments late April 11 following an evening vote in which the Senate approved S. 5, a bill permitting destruction of human embryos in federally funded stem-cell research, by a 63-34 margin. Should S. 5 become law, "millions of taxpayers would be forced to promote attacks on innocent human life in the name of scientific progress," he said. Since President George W. Bush has promised to veto the legislation, however, and its backers do not have enough votes for an override in the House or the Senate, "we expect that this terrible burden will not be placed on the American people now," Doerflinger said. On Jan. 11 the House passed a similar measure, H.R. 3, by a vote of 253-174. The House vote was 32 votes short of a two-thirds majority needed to override a veto.

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