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MESSAGE to CUT and PASTE:

I ask you to immediately issue an Executive Order to reverse the federal restriction on funding for human embryonic stem cell research.

Progress has been stalled long enough. The 100 million patients who suffer from cancer, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, Parkinson’s, spinal cord injuries, heart disease, ALS, and others diseases look to you to allow embryonic stem cell research to move forward.

Research cannot wait for legislation. An Executive Order from you today could offer hope for so many.

Ground Hog Day has passed, receiving its usual bit of press. Why does it receive any media coverage? Probably because we’re anxious to be rid of winter and are looking for any hopeful sign. Unfortunately Punxsutawney Phil didn’t have very good news for us this year, but maybe his prediction falls in line with other gloomy observations in the economic sector. While economic forecasts may be a lot more credible than one based on whether a groundhog sees its shadow, I worry about the public’s ability to discern the difference between established fact and feasible science.

What does all that have to do with stem cells? Well, let me share two anecdotes with you that might illustrate my point. Two weeks ago I got a late night call from a very intelligent, highly respected friend who was sure National Public Radio reported President Obama had reversed the Bush Administration’s position on limiting embryonic stem cell lines. “Wow,” I said, “that would be fantastic, but I haven’t heard anything like that.” I thanked him and decided to wait to see what the news reported the next day. He called back certain he was right and so excited by the news that human stem cell trials would start on spinal cord injuries. In his mind, the news promised great hope that I’d again be rejoining him at his country home to enjoy the outdoor activities we used to share.

Somehow he had heard the news he wanted to hear and understood the announcements in the most hopeful way. President Obama’s initial moves to change Bush administration policy did not include anything about embryonic stem cells, simply about funding for family planning through the United Nations. The announcement to do human trials for spinal cord injured patients was not a change in government policy, but the advancement of a previous application to the FDA for a phase 1 safety trial using embryonic stem cells. While all of the news was welcome, my friend had misunderstood the information and the scope of the announcements, probably erring in the name of hope.

Hope is a good thing; make no mistake about it. Medical research relies on hope—hope that science can lead us to new understanding of therapies and cures. But so far we can only hope for change in government policy. It hasn’t happened yet.

I am also afraid that people have placed excessive hope in stem cell research and that leads me to my second anecdote which, although hearsay, illustrates the point that uninformed exuberance may potentially harm patients being “treated” by unscrupulous practitioners. A cousin of my questioned me about her friend’s choice to receive stem cells as a treatment for arthritis. The well-heeled friend had rejected a knee replacement in favor of a therapy which the orthopedist acknowledged was not yet accepted by the medical community, but was certainly worth exploring. The stem cells were allegedly her own having been extracted and processed in the doctor’s own lab. What the patient was actually receiving, I have no idea. What I do know is that there are no current government approved trials to treat arthritis in this way. And I am fairly sure that the patient does not understand the risk/reward ratio of this physician’s treatment plan. What I fear is that like so many other patients, hope sometimes clouds judgment. As stem cell research advances, the hype may entice more patients to be human guinea pigs.

Religious Groups’ Official Positions on Stem Cell Research

July 17, 2008  |  Go to original article at Pewforum.org

American Baptist Churches in the U.S.A.

The group has no explicit policy on the issue; rather it states that “one must be guided by one’s own relationship with God and Scripture.”

• David Maraniss, “Editorial: Everything is Relative.” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, August 26, 2001.
• Correspondence with representative from the American Baptist Churches in the U.S.A.

Buddhism

Though Buddhist teachings do not directly address the issue, there are two main tenets – the prohibition against harming or destroying others (ahimsa), and the pursuit of knowledge (prajña) and compassion (karua) – that divide Buddhist scholars and communities. Some Buddhists argue that stem cell research is in accordance with the Buddhist tenet of seeking knowledge and ending human suffering, while others argue that it is a violation of the notion of not harming others.

• ABC Science, “Buddhism at one with stem cell research”
• Damien Keown, “‘No Harm’ Applies to Stem Cell Embryos: One Buddhist’s View” (reprinted by Beliefnet.com)
• Somparn Promta, Philosophy Department and Center for Buddhist Studies, Chulalongkorn University, “Human Cloning and Embryonic Stem Cell Research: A View from Theravada Buddhist Morality”

Catholicism

In accordance with their anti-abortion stance, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops supports adult stem cell research but opposes embryonic stem cell research since it creates or destroys human embryos.

• U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, “Catholic Support for Ethically Acceptable Stem Cell Research”

Episcopal Church

In 2004, the church’s governing body, the General Convention, declared itself in favor of stem cell research as long as the embryos used would have been destroyed otherwise, the embryos were not created solely for research purposes and the embryos were not bought or sold.

• The Archives of the Episcopal Church, The Acts of Convention 1976-2006, “Support Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research“

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

The ELCA does not have an official position on the issue. In 2005, the Churchwide Assembly, the governing body of the church, created a task force to study the issues of genetics and biotechnology and to present a report in 2011.

• Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, “A Social Statement on Genetics”

Hinduism

Though Hinduism believes that life begins at conception, the religion has no official position on stem cell research.

• HinduismToday.com, October/November/Decemeber 2004, “On Stem Cell Research“
• The New York Times, “How India Reconciles Hindu Values and Biotech”

Islam

There is no explicit Islamic ruling on the issue of stem cell research. While some Muslim leaders allow for stem cell research on the ground that, according to Islam, an embryo in the early stage of pregnancy does not have a soul, others argue that the termination of an embryo at any stage of pregnancy is morally impermissible.

• Islam 101: “An Islamic Perspective on Stem Cells Research”
• The Christian Science Monitor, “Stem-Cell Science Stirs Debate in Muslim World, Too”

Judaism

All major Jewish denominations – including the Reform, Conservative, Orthodox and Reconstructionist movements – support both embryonic and adult stem cell research as long as it is for medical or therapeutic purposes.

• Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, “Stem Cell Research, Position of the Reform Jewish Movement”
• United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, “Stem Cell Research and Education (2003)”
• Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association, “Resolution on Educational and Political Support for Stem Cell Research”
• Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations Welcomes U.S. House Passage of Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act (2005)

Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod

In 2005, the group reaffirmed its opposition to embryonic stem cell research, advocating instead for adult stem cell research.

• Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, “Christian Faith and Human Beginnings: Christian Care and Pre-implementation Human Life”

Mormonism

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has not issued a statement on the issue of stem cell research.

• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Newsroom, Public Issues: “Embryonic Stem-cell Research”

National Association of Evangelicals

In 2005, the National Association of Evangelicals issued a statement voicing its opposition to stem cell research.

• National Association of Evangelicals, “Bioethics & Stem Cell Research”

National Council of Churches

After an evaluation in 2006 of the debate surrounding stem cell research, the National Council of Churches’ Human Biotechnologies Policy Development Committee adopted a position stating that “as a result of a lack of clear consensus [among ethicists, academia and scientists], the National Council of Churches neither endorses nor condemns experimentation on human embryos.”

• National Council of Churches, “Fearfully and Wonderfully Made: A Policy on Human Biotechnologies”

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

In 2004, the Presbyterian Church’s governing body, the General Assembly, reaffirmed its position in favor of stem cell research that is intended to “[restore health] to those suffering from serious illness.”

• Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), The Washington Office, “Next Steps: Federal Funding for Stem Cell Research”

Southern Baptist Convention

In 1999, the Southern Baptist Convention reaffirmed its “opposition to the destruction of human embryos … [and] support for the development of alternative treatments which do not require human embryos to be killed.”

• Southern Baptist Convention, “Resolution On Human Embryonic and Stem Cell Research”

Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations

In 2006, the association’s policymaking body, the General Assembly, stated its support for stem cell research as long as the research is for medical therapies and not the reproductive cloning of humans.

• Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations, Social Justice Statements, “Pass the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act”

United Church of Christ

In 2001, the United Church of Christ ruled in favor of research on embryonic stem cells that would otherwise be discarded from in vitro fertilization.

• United Church of Christ, Resolutions, “Support for Federally Funded Research on Embryonic Stem Cells”

United Methodist Church

In 2004, the United Methodist Church asserted its support for therapeutic cloning in which spare embryonic stem cells resulting from in vitro fertilization are used. The church also maintained its opposition to the use or creation of embryonic stem cells solely for the purpose of research.

• United Methodist Church, Archives, “Ethics of Embryonic Stem Cell Research”

« Back to the report

WASHINGTON — Thwarted by President Bush in their efforts to expand federal spending on embryonic stem cell research, Democrats are now debating whether to overturn federal restrictions through executive order or by legislation when they assume full control of the government this month.

Both President-elect Barack Obama and Democratic Congressional leaders have made repealing Bush administration restrictions announced in 2001 a top priority. But they have yet to determine if Mr. Obama should quickly put his stamp on the issue by way of presidential directive, or if Congress should write a permanent policy into statute.

The debate is not academic. Democrats who oppose abortion say such a legislative fight holds the potential to get the year off to a difficult beginning, even though the outcome is certain given solid majorities in both the House and the Senate for expanded embryonic stem cell research.

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