Local Pastors involve themselves in stem cell research

[DanCa]

Priests step into debate on research
Local pastors take on stem cell issue.


By TERRY GANEY of the Columbia Daily Tribune's staff
Published Sunday, November 27, 2005

Beginning this weekend, Roman Catholic priests and deacons in
Columbia will be counseling their parishioners against signing a
petition for a statewide election that could protect embryonic stem
cell research. Catholic bishops in Missouri have encouraged priests to deliver the message in Sunday sermons.The Rev. Charles Pardee, pastor of the St. Thomas More NewmanCenter, said he intends to refer to the issue. "I?m not going to make the whole homily about that, but I will ask people not to sign the petition for the initiative on the ballot,"Pardee said Friday. "It?s not going to be a science class, but
hopefully people would understand the immorality of it, which would
be why they would not sign the petition."The Rev. Edwin Cole, pastor at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, said a deacon was scheduled to give the homily today.

"He has all the materials that have been sent out, and he is
preaching on that topic," Cole said. "We as pastors are supporting
the bishops of Missouri in their request by doing our best to inform
the people of our parishes."Monsignor Michael Flanigan, pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, said that his sermon was already planned around the firstSunday of Advent but that he will probably address the issue in the future. A group called the Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures is aimingto put a measure on next November?s ballot that would protect cloning for research as long as it remains legal under federal law. The measure would make it illegal to implant a cloned embryo in awoman?s uterus - that is, to produce a cloned baby. It would permit therapeutic cloning for research.
The group plans to circulate a petition to put the issue before
voters. About 150,000 signatures would have to be collected by May
to place the issue on the ballot. Members of the coalition include some of Missouri?s most influential and well-financed special interests. Former U.S. Sen. Jack Danforth
has appeared in television commercials encouraging people to support
the stem cell initiative, saying it would help scientists and
doctors in Missouri find cures for diseases. Last December, University of Missouri system President Elson Floyd
signed a letter calling for therapeutic cloning to remain legal.
Scott Charton, director of university communications, said
Floyd "stands by that letter." Charton also said the university is a member of the Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures.
Stem cell research involves taking a woman?s ovum, or egg, and
removing its nucleus. The egg is combined with a body cell and
stimulated to divide, forming a tiny embryo. After several days, the
embryo contains about 150 cells. At that point, scientists can
harvest stem cells for medical research. The procedure destroys the
embryo.

Religious organizations - Catholic and Protestant, including the
Missouri Baptist Convention - oppose the initiative, saying the
research involves the taking of human life.Larry Weber, executive director of the Missouri Catholic Conference,said the bishops of the four Catholic dioceses in Missouri sent packets of materials on the issue to churches throughout the state. "All human life is sacred and entitled to dignity and the full protection of laws from its very inception," he said. "What is being created is nascent human life, and consistent with other teachings of the church in this regard, this life should be subjectto protection as well." Donn Rubin, chairman of the Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures,
said the organization respects the opinion of Roman Catholic Church
leaders. "However, we are disappointed by their attempt to undermine
the electoral process that would allow the citizens of Missouri to
decide this vitally important issue."

"In fact, polls show that an overwhelming majority of Catholics
support allowing science to use early stem cells to find cures for
serious diseases such as Alzheimer?s, diabetes and Parkinson?s,"
Rubin said.

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. This really angers me

The biomedical research industry is very important to the local economy here. We will lose it if stem cell research is banned in Missouri.

Too bad the Catholic church is more interested in protecting pedophile priests.

[DanCa]

2. Me too I have parkinsons I need this research.

Here is hopefully the correct link.

www.health.groups.yahoo.com/group/stemcellinformation/messages

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. My dad had Parkinsons

I have an idea what you are going through.

[DanCa]

4. Thank you - and I can't even get comfort in the church of my birth anymore

I have lost so much to this disease and now they want to rob me of my belief as well.

[darkmaestro019]

5. (head plus desktop)

If you do not want a cloned embryo in your uterus, do not get the procedure. If you don't want your wife, sister, daughter, etc, to have this done, you can try to persuade them.

If you want to tell the members of whatever church you lead that you don't think your God wants that done and you advise against it, FINE. But you are not in charge of the world. And you have no right to decide what women who don't VOLUNTARILY SUBMIT to your little religious rules can and cannot do.

Why is this mind your own business thing so hard for people to understand?

[DanCa]

6. If i could nominate you for a reply I would.

Thanks you nailled it. Now where's the Irs when you need them?