“Therefore We base Our words on the first principles of a human and Christian doctrine of marriage when We are obliged once more to declare that the direct interruption of the generative process already begun and, above all, all direct abortion, even for therapeutic reasons, are to be absolutely excluded as lawful means of regulating the number of children” (paragraph 14).
Stem cell research is a common controversy in the United States. Many Catholics and other Christians believe that stem cell research should be banned because the use of some of this research uses embryonic stem cells. These are made with donated eggs and sperm to make embryos, but they are not grown inside a woman, and there was no sexual act to create these. Embryonic stem cells are very useful because they are extremely versatile. If they are undifferentiated, they can grow into muscle cells. Pancreatic cells, skin cells, etc. With this technology, it is thought that we could find methods to cure the damaged cells in patients who are sick with terminal diseases such as Parkinson’s, diabetes, heart disease and hearing loss.
The reason that this issue relates to the Pope’s Huminae Vitae is because of the interpretation that Catholics give to this doctrine. Some religious people believe that the use of those human embryos qualifies as “direct abortion.” They believe that any manipulation of these processes that does not result in a baby is essentially murder. They use cute baby posters to convince you that there is no conceivable difference between a group of cells no larger than the head of a pin and a full sized smiling baby. They believe that using these embryos destroys the potential life that could have resulted from that particular egg or sperm.
Here’s how I see it: a woman can be born with up to 7 million eggs. Men’s bodies can produce almost unlimited amounts of semen. Honestly, we have more than enough of these resources to go around. The probability that the egg/sperm that they are using for their stem cell research is the same one that would have ended up being fertilized and carried to term is almost laughably small. The truth is that those little tiny cells could save someone’s life. I think that it’s wrong to value potential life over actual life. These people are alive right now, they’re suffering, they’re dying slowly, their families are grieving, and they’re good people who got stuck with a bad lot in life. Why does the Pope feel that their lives are worth less than a group of cells? Those embryos are not babies. They don’t wear adorable hats. They can’t smile. But they could save someone’s life.
An article in the Minnesota Daily recently announced that the University of Minnesota is adding an undergraduate course in stem cell research methods and ethics. The University is a huge proponent of stem cell research, and has received 43 million dollars in funding from the federal government to contribute to research on the subject. There is an entire institute at the University devoted to Stem Cell Research. I take great pride in attending a university that is dedicated to finding cures to these severe diseases and changing the lives of those who suffer from them or may suffer from them in the future.
Wow, I never even knew stem cell research is a no-no in the Catholic community...when I first read this i'm like "well what could they possibly have a problem with saving lives..." but you spelled it out great! Now I understand what's going on and you're right in saying that the Pope is wrong by thinking that potential lives are more important than actual lives. You would think it would be the other way around simply because what we do as humans is god's will, like it says in the Bible? Right? And if we're here on Earth then we're here because God wants us here...right? I also see the Pope's side of this ordeal as well, I mean we could be killing the next Jesus or next President or next Messiah or the next Prophet, we could be accidently killing somebody who could have been 'somebody' but has no chance now. Hmm, that's different to think about.
ReplyDeleteWhat I find interesting is that the church defines proper conception as being between a married couple with intercourse. If there IS no couple, no intercourse, no possibility of a child being born, does it still count as an abortion? This issue really depends on what you consider to be a child or to be cells. In a way, 'killing' an unborn child for the sake of saving someone alive is awful, but if you don't consider lab grown cells to be a possible child then of course they should be used for research. I'm in favor of stem cell research, but this is one of those issues that will never be truly resolved, I think.
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of the embryonic stem cells coming from donation and that is very interesting to me. I am Catholic and not a huge fan of abortion, but even to me, this doesn't seem like a real conceived child. If the child is never going to be born, and it was never conceived inside of a woman, is it really a baby? I would answer not. Even though I don't support stem cell research from aborted babies, this I am not against and it actually seems like a way around it. I am all for finding the cures to common and serious diseases, and this seems like a way scientists could do this and potentially not piss off the Pro-Lifers. :)
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