Illinois – time to stand up against embryonic stem cell research

Great article in the Catholic Explorer today:

Catholics move to end Illinois funds for embryonic stem-cell research

By Mark Indreika
Catholic News Service

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. (CNS) — In light of new scientific evidence demonstrating how primitive stem cells can be created without destroying human embryos, the Catholic Conference of Illinois is pushing for new legislation to end state-sanctioned funding of embryonic stem-cell research through the Illinois Regenerative Medicine Institute.

“Human embryos should not be used in any type of research, and that should be in the law,” said Zach Wichmann, associate director of education for the conference, the public policy arm for the state’s Catholic bishops.

In addition to being immoral, he said, there is no scientific reason to continue using embryos.

“We think now that science has progressed to a point where it seems that embryonic stem-cell research is no longer necessary — that we can ban that procedure,” Wichmann told the Catholic Explorer, Joliet diocesan newspaper, in a telephone interview from his Springfield office.

Recently two research studies independently confirmed that ordinary skin cells can be genetically reprogrammed to work as effectively as embryonic stem cells. Wichmann said the new research poses no moral conflict since human embryos are not needed.

Dr. Patrick Stiff, director of Loyola’s Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center in Maywood, said genetically manipulating a patient’s own skin cells to regenerate new tissues eliminates any chance of rejection or the need for powerful anti-rejection drugs.

Speaking with the Explorer on the telephone, he said, “It’s the ideal way of getting enough cells for anybody.” Stiff, a parishioner at St. Margaret Mary Parish in Naperville, has done extensive work using adult stem cells from umbilical-cord blood to successfully treat cancer. continue