Catholic Answers Action Project: Stem Cells, New Danger, New Hope

Karl Keating and Catholic Answers have come up with an important “state of stem cells” educational bulletin insert which we can all help fund and disseminate. They aim to send Stem Cells, New Danger, New Hope to every parish in the U.S., and even to each member of Congress before November.

That’s right folks, November. Are we really that pessimistic? Well no. But even if Senator Obama is not elected, there is still so much at stake - possibly many of the life-saving and life-affirming legislative gains regarding the funding of stem cell research put in place by President Bush. Some believe that recent iPS breakthroughs have undermined the demand for embryonic stem cell lines . . . but there is little evidence to support this idea.  Well, read all about it at Catholic Answers, and consider how you can help get this bulletin everywhere it needs to be read . . . and soon!

Judie Brown not happy with language in WI bishops’ stem cell letter

Recently the Catholic bishops of Wisconsin released a pastoral letter entitled, “Serving All and Sacrificing None”.  Judie Brown of American Life League finds the language used in the document “sloppy”. Catholic Exchange has Judie’s full commentary here.

She finds fault, for instance, with the bishops’ wording:

We know many struggle with official Catholic teaching that a small group of cells invisible to the naked eye deserves the same protection as the life of a baby in the womb. . .

She may have a point. Professor Diane Irving is also unhappy with this language. On the other hand, it is important to convey to those who are sincerely confused (or just plain obstinately wrong) that we do understand why they do not see what we see. They see individual cells, we see the early stages of an already existent human being. If we cannot show them that we see what they see, they will not even begin to try to see what we see. Perhaps it would have been better not to omit or change the words “a small group of cells”, but to add to them, ‘which is already a human being with an inherent right to life”.

Is this just tit for tat, dotting “i’s”, etc? I don’t know. In my work, I do know that language is powerful. Judie’s point is true, a concession of a word here or there can have difficult consequences. On the other hand, there are ways to use language which can build bridges and invite opportunities for understanding . . . and that is, I think, the goal of a pastoral letter. What do you think?

 

Divine Mercy Sunday for life issues

 

This Sunday is the celebration of Divine Mercy. Sadly, only a minority of Catholics are familiar with this powerful devotion, and even far fewer of our non-Catholic brother and sisters. If you, dear reader, do not know what the Divine Mercy devotion is all about, we invite you to learn about it here.

In 2003, John Paul the Great offered a papal blessing to those who would pray the chaplet specifically for the intentions of ending the culture of death and for the relief of its many victims. I don’t know if that papal blessing is irrevocable or not, but certainly Our Lord promises to shower down graces each and every time we pray the chaplet.  In 2003, Fr. Pavone of Priests for Life wrote:

The Holy Father has given a new gift to the pro-life movement.

You have likely seen the picture of Jesus standing with his hand pointed to his heart, from which red and pale rays emanate. The words “Jesus, I trust in you” are at the bottom. This image represents the devotion to Divine Mercy, based on revelations given to St. Faustina Kowalska (1905-1938). The image itself was revealed to her, as was the “Chaplet of Divine Mercy,” in which we pray the following words:

“Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world. For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.”Pope John Paul II has fostered this devotion within the Church, and has declared the Sunday after Easter to be Divine Mercy Sunday. Many of the faithful, especially in the pro-life movement, practice this devotion.

Now the Pope has personally emphasized this connection once again, by signing a special Papal Blessing for those who pray the Chaplet for an end to abortion. The blessing, signed on the Feast of the Annunciation, March 25, 2003, is addressed to the Eucharistic Apostles of the Divine Mercy and to “all the faithful worldwide who join them in offering the Divine Mercy Chaplet…for mothers, that they not abort their offspring; for infants in danger of being put to death in the womb; for a change of heart of providers of abortions and of their collaborators; for human victims of stem cell research, genetic manipulation, cloning and euthanasia; and for all entrusted with the government of peoples, that they may promote the Culture of Life, so as to put an end to the culture of death.”God cannot fail to hear our prayer; let’s not fail to pray it.

And so, friends, let’s make use of this gift. Let us ask mercy for our own sins, and those of the whole world, especially as they concern the life issues by praying the chaplet on Divine Mercy Sunday.

Come upon this post after Divine Mercy Sunday? Here is another great opportunity to pray with so many others around the world: Saint Michael the Archangel Organization.

Adult stem cells may help children with a severe skin disease

Don Margolis blogged this story about the possibility of a new hope for a terrible disease. Because I correspond a lot with parents who are considering termination - knowing that their babies will be born with defects or syndromes, Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) has been one of those conditions I’ve always dreaded discussing; it’s awful, a life of chronic pain, likely amputations, infections . . . and yet each person affected by EB (there are several kinds with differing severity) has a right to life, even if it is a difficult one. Now, there may be some hope for these children like Jake pictured above with his unaffected brother, Julian. 

Read about this treatment – and pray. Imagine what a successful treatment means to this family, and all the families dealing with EB.

Obamamania? Just say no

Leticia poses the scenario, “What to do if Obamamania hits home?”

Let’s raise the stakes:  What do you do if  you live in the eye of the Obamamania hurricane? That’s right, what’s a good Catholic girl living in Illinois to do?

1) Allow yourself to feel a momentary surge of unbridled joy. There is a very real possibility that  Barack Obama will not be your senator for much longer. Of course, that doesn’t help with the fact that Sen. Durbin, Governor Blago, and Attorney General Lisa Madigan are working hard with your tax dollars to perpetuate the reign of gloom and doom that is the scene in Illinois . . . but surely I digress.

2)Allow the momentum from that first unreflective surge of unbridled joy to keep you from falling to the floor in despair once you completely comprehend the real possibility that Mr. Obama could be your next President. Please don’t pass out - it may be interpreted as a swoon.

3)Get the facts, get busy, and get a t-shirt. The t-shirt is a nice touch isn’t it? It’s not really safe to wear that outside Dupage county though - just fair warning.

Fact: Mr. Obama sponsored the misleadingly named Ronald Reagan Biomedical Act of Illinois and the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act in DC - both promoting extravagent funding for embryonic stem cell research.  Mr. Obama appears to have a slightly more sophisticated knowledge of the stem cell world than many of our politicians, which unfortunately makes it less excusable that he stood before President Bush and said:

All over the country, exciting progress is being made in the area of embryonic stem cell research. At the University of Illinois, they’re finding that stem cells have the potential to treat blood disorders, lung diseases, and heart damage. . .   

without so much as even nodding to the fact that adult and amniotic fluid stem cells are not potentially treating these problems . . . but in fact, already are. Thankfully, President Bush was not impressed.

 In his own bid for the Oval Office, 2008, Mr. Obama reaffirms his commitment to federal funding for embryonic stem cell research:

“This is about a commitment to medical research, under strict federal guidelines. … [We must] expand the current policy on embryonic stem cell research so that we can begin finding the cures of tomorrow today.”

Change? Folks, this isn’t pocket change. We are talking billions of dollars to be spent on research that is morally reprehensible to many Americans.

Fact: Mr. Obama opposed the Supreme Court’s recent ban on Partial Birth Abortion.

Fact: Mr. Obama opposed the Born Alive Infant Protection Act - a stance that put him even left-field of NARAL. Scary. Try that one on sally swooner.

While there are many who cannot, for whatever reasons, understand that the human embryo has inherent dignity and should be respected, and still others cannot find themselves opposed to any abortion procedure, even the most repugnant, surely they will bat an eye at the idea that an already born baby should not be given the  respect due a human person.

As for Barack Obama,  the only batting he has done is zero for three in these crucial life issues.

Obamamania? Change that some, literally, won’t be able to live with.

Truth and Justice Triumph in Missouri

Thanks be to God! Yesterday Judge Patricia Joyce upheld the challenge by Missouri Cures Without Cloning to Secretary of State Robin Carnahan’s inaccurate and blatantly biased ballot summary for a constitutional amendment to truly ban human cloning in Missouri. I am incredibly pleased and quite frankly surprised at the ruling. The revised language is much closer to the purpose of the actual Amendment than Carnahan’s disgraceful language.

Because of the lawsuit, progress has been delayed for quite some time. So we still have very hard work ahead of us if we are to have any chance of getting this on the ballot in November, especially if the opposition decides to appeal in an effort to halt the signature gathering process. Please keep us in your prayers so that we can finally, truly ban human cloning (and promote REAL hope for therapies and cures) in Missouri!

Try this one:
Rosary Crusade Safeguarding Embryonic Human Life

Also, visit the CWC blog!

Join Unborn Word Alliance in Prayer

The Unborn Word Alliance points out that the election is roughly nine months away. That gives us time to pray a novena of sorts:

During the next nine months we can show solidarity for the unborn in various ways - particularly by surrounding them with our love and praying fervently for their rights during this election cycle.

That lovely image pictured above depicts a human embryo cradled in a heart. If there is any person even more vulnerable than a baby in the womb, it is a human embryo in a petri dish or lab freezer. Let us pray for an end to embryonic stem cell research as part of our prayers for all the unborn.

He does not need stem cells

On this 150th anniversary of the apparition at Lourdes, let us give thanks to God who, through the intercession of Our Lady, has completely healed countless people in mind, heart, and body. We should celebrate every ethical advance in cures and treatments, but let us never forget that God is the source of all things good.

Tell it like it is, Papa

 

 ”When human beings in the weakest and most defenseless state of their existence are selected, abandoned, killed or used as pure ‘biological material,’ how can one deny that they are being treated not as ’someone’ but as ’something,’” he said.

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