May 07, 2005
Stem cell research
The following was written by the prophet Ezekiel as an allegory about Jerusalem, but it also seems to fit this discussion very well:
"Son of man, confront Jerusalem with her detestable practices ... On the day you were born, your cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water to make you clean, nor were you rubbed in salt or wrapped in cloths. No one looked on you with pity or had compassion enough to do any of these things for you. Rather, you were thrown out into the open field, for on the day you were born, you were despised.
"Then I passed by and saw you kicking about in your blood, and as you lay there in your blood I said to you, 'Live!' I made you grow like a plant of the field. You grew up and developed and became the most beautiful of jewels."
Let's get this straight up front. I am a pro-lifer. I believe that life begins at conception, and that any abortion or discarding of human fetal tissue is wrong.
However, this belief does not call for a total ban on stem-cell research. Killing embryos for stem cells is wrong, but embryonic research is not the only option. Most pro-lifers are on-board in favor of what is called adult stem-cell research, such as with bone-marrow stem cells; but research into umbilical cord stem cells, which may have some of the properties of embryonic stem cells, should be aggressively pursued; since there is no question that the umbilical cord was intended to be discarded following the birth of a child.
I do not pretend to fully understand the ethical issues; but I also think we need to calm down and carefully consider all available options; then choose those which are ethical and which are scientifically promising. Those who are faithful to the Lord should not be setting up unnecessary roadblocks to scientific research, because we are also called to heal those who would benefit from this research. However, we do have a responsibility to guide decisionmakers in the way this can be done that respects human life and dignity.
Following are some links to sites that may help you to clarify the issues:
From religioustolerance.org: What are stem cells?
From CNN: Elizabeth Cohen discusses the ethics of stem cell research.
Copyright © 2005, Harold D. Thomas. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to use the material in this blog provided both conditions are met: (1) Credit is given to the author, and (2) the use is not for profit.
"Son of man, confront Jerusalem with her detestable practices ... On the day you were born, your cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water to make you clean, nor were you rubbed in salt or wrapped in cloths. No one looked on you with pity or had compassion enough to do any of these things for you. Rather, you were thrown out into the open field, for on the day you were born, you were despised.
"Then I passed by and saw you kicking about in your blood, and as you lay there in your blood I said to you, 'Live!' I made you grow like a plant of the field. You grew up and developed and became the most beautiful of jewels."
Ezekiel 16:2, 4-7a
Let's get this straight up front. I am a pro-lifer. I believe that life begins at conception, and that any abortion or discarding of human fetal tissue is wrong.
However, this belief does not call for a total ban on stem-cell research. Killing embryos for stem cells is wrong, but embryonic research is not the only option. Most pro-lifers are on-board in favor of what is called adult stem-cell research, such as with bone-marrow stem cells; but research into umbilical cord stem cells, which may have some of the properties of embryonic stem cells, should be aggressively pursued; since there is no question that the umbilical cord was intended to be discarded following the birth of a child.
I do not pretend to fully understand the ethical issues; but I also think we need to calm down and carefully consider all available options; then choose those which are ethical and which are scientifically promising. Those who are faithful to the Lord should not be setting up unnecessary roadblocks to scientific research, because we are also called to heal those who would benefit from this research. However, we do have a responsibility to guide decisionmakers in the way this can be done that respects human life and dignity.
Following are some links to sites that may help you to clarify the issues:
From religioustolerance.org: What are stem cells?
From CNN: Elizabeth Cohen discusses the ethics of stem cell research.
Copyright © 2005, Harold D. Thomas. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to use the material in this blog provided both conditions are met: (1) Credit is given to the author, and (2) the use is not for profit.
Copyright © 2005-2006, Harold D. Thomas. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to use the material in this blog provided this copyright notice is shown and the use is not for profit.
The Middle Way posted by Harold Thomas @ 9:21 AM 
