The Catholic Conference of Ohio has taken a strong stand toward protecting the sanctity of all human life. Protecting human life begins with our opposition to abortion and euthanasia, which are pre-eminent threats to human life and dignity, and extends to our opposition to cloning, assisted suicide, the death penalty, and our efforts to pursue peace.
The Catholic Church is opposed to stem cell research using the embryo because harvesting these stem cells kills the living human embryo. The Church opposes the direct destruction of innocent human life for any purpose, including research.
The Church is not opposed to all stem cell research. Most stem cell research uses cells obtained from adult tissue, umbilical cord blood, and other sources that pose no moral problem. Useful stem cells have been found in bone marrow, blood, muscle, fat, nerves, and even in the pulp of baby teeth. Some of these cells are already being used to treat people with a wide variety of diseases.
The Catholic Church views cloning as a depersonalized way to reproduce, in which human beings are manufactured in the laboratory to preset specifications. It is not a worthy way to bring a new human being into the world. When done for stem cell research, it involves the moral wrong of all embryonic stem cell research (destroying an innocent human life for possible benefit to others), plus an additional wrong: It creates human beings solely in order to kill them for their cells. This is the ultimate reduction of a fellow human being to a mere means, to an instrument of other people’s wishes.
News/Action Alerts
On June 13, 2008 the U.S. Catholic bishops issued the statement "On Embryonic Stem Cell Research." This statement is the first formal statement issued by the bishops devoted exclusively to this issue.
Reprogramming skin cells to obtain stem cells ethically viable
Ohio Legislation
SB 174 prohibits knowingly performing or attempting to perform human cloning, or sending or receiving a human embryo produced by human cloning or a product derived from that embryo. This prohibition does not restrict the areas of scientific research that do not involve the creation or use of a human embryo produced by human cloning or any product derived from a human embryo produced by human cloning.
This bill was added to the economic stimulus bill, HB 554, in an effort to ensure that state funds designated for biomedical research would not be used on embryonic stem cells. This provision was line item vetoed by Governor Strickland on June 12, 2008.
Resources
On Embryonic Stem Cell Research. U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
Question & Answers Bulletin Insert regarding Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning. United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Selective Quotes on Catholic Teaching regarding Cloning
USCCB Resources regarding Cloning/Embryonic Research/StemCell Research
Links
U.S. Bishops Office of Pro Life Activities
National Committee for a Human Life Amendment
Need More Information
Contact Jim Tobin , 614-224-7147
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