In March, President Obama, reversed an Executive Order ending an 8 year ban on research of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, which now permits federal funding for research, giving the National Institutes of Health (NIH) 3 months to develop “Ethical Guidelines” for research.
A microscopic view shows a colony of human embryonic stem cells (light blue) growing on fibroblasts (dark blue) in this photo released to Reuters News Agency by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine.
Yesterday the federal government announced Ethical Guidelines approving 13 batches of human embryonic stem cells, enabling Researchers to obtain millions of dollars of tax dollars for research.
Using embryonic stem cells is controversial because in order to cultivate the lines, Scientists must harvest stem cells from human embryos, because the embryos are destroyed in the process the Catholic Church as well as other anti-abortion activists have opposed their use. Developing and Incubating a Stem Cell Line in order to harvest embryonic stem cells, Researchers use micro eyedroppers to remove single cells from early stage embryos each of which consists of only 8 to 10 cells. NIH notes that the process of of developing these lines is delicate and inefficient.
Are the “Ethical Guidelines” established pursuant to Barack Obama’s Executive Order even ethical?
The Catholic Church says No. The church teaches that human life begins at conception and there are alternatives other than using embryonic stem cells that actually have a better potential. The best sources are from our own organs according to the Coalition of Americans for Research Ethics Dr. David Prentice points out and another excellent source is umbilical cord blood which has restored the immune systems in children, whose cancer has previously destroyed their abilities to fight off infections and disease.
The Family Research Council has announced the beginning of their campaign to spread awareness about how successful adult stem cells are in treating a variety of diseases. The most recent count places the number of conditions successfully treated at close to eighty.
More here Adult Stem Cells Saved My Life Via Catholic News Agency