President Bush has vetoed the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act for a second time.  This important legislation expands federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.  We need your help to let the Senate know that Catholics support stem cell research.

To email your senators, please click here.

As Catholics, we believe that stem cell research is vitally important to treating and/or curing a variety of diseases and syndromes. 72% of American Catholics support stem cell research, and we urge the Senate and the President to as well. The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act promotes potentially life-saving medical research that could benefit millions of Americans.

Embryonic stem cell research has the potential to help find new treatments for the millions of American suffering from diseases like diabetes, Parkinson’s, cancer, multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s. Nonetheless, the Bush administration’s current stem cell policy has significantly restricted funding for this research and impeded scientists’ progress. The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act lifts the existing restrictions and expands the number of stem cell lines that are eligible for federally funded research, while maintaining strict ethical requirements.

Your voice needs to be heard!

Antichoice rhetoric is often used to justify opposition to federally-funding this research. It is important to note that the majority of stem cells that are used come from embryos created during IVF which would be discarded if not used for this crucial research. The US Catholic bishops and the Bush administration must not be allowed to hold back this critical advancement in science that could treat or cure millions of Americans.

Email your Senators and the President today!

 

Resources:

• Senate Approves Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, HOPE Act
• The Science Behind the Stem Cell Debate
• “Hush, Hush, Speak If You Dare - When (and where) does human life begin?”  - Spring 2001 Conscience (PDF)