Seeing is Believing

When an expectant mother casts her eyes on an image of the thumb-sucking bairn nestled in her womb, it’s difficult to deny the truth – the bundle in her belly is a living, breathing baby. Knowing this, protectors of the preborn are pushing to make it easier for any woman considering an abortion to first look at an ultrasound picture of the little one whose life depends on her mercy.

Click here to ask Congress to pass the Informed Choice Act.

Click here to sign the CMC petition

According to statistical research, a woman is 80 percent more likely to change her mind about an abortion if she has information that encourages her to reflect on the procedure ahead of time. For this reason, the Center for Moral Clarity supports the Informed Choice Act, H.R. 223, which would authorize the federal secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to nonprofit organizations for the purchase of ultrasound equipment.

Passing this bill would enable clinics nationwide to provide free examinations to pregnant women – and give them a peek through the window to the womb.

Along with funding grants for purchasing ultrasound equipment, the Informed Choice Act would:

• Require clinics to show the visual image of the fetus from the ultrasound examination to each pregnant woman with a general anatomical and physiological description of the fetus;
• Give each pregnant woman the approximate age of the embryo or fetus;
• Provide information on abortion and alternatives to abortion, such as childbirth and adoption, and information concerning public and private agencies that will assist in those alternatives.

“If we are to regain our equilibrium as a society, if we are to rescue our children from a downward spiral of violence, then we must recover our founding ideals,” said Pastor Rod Parsley. “We must resensitize ourselves to the dignity, integrity and sanctity of life by upholding it at every opportunity and in every situation. People matter.”

The U.S. Supreme Court decision in April upholding a federal ban on ghastly partial-birth abortions has invigorated people who love and revere the sanctity of human life. In addition to the Informed Choice Act pending in Congress, a variety of state legislation seeks to include ultrasounds as a prerequisite before a mother could kill her developing offspring.

South Carolina, which is the only state in the nation to recognize a fetus as a person, also could become the only state to require a woman to view an ultrasound before getting an abortion. Several other states are considering laws that would make ultrasounds available but would not make looking at them mandatory.

Of course, as much as the partial-birth ruling has motivated Bible-believing Christians, it has provoked abortion proponents. So it was no surprise that Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., and Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., wasted no time in reintroducing the Freedom of Choice Act, a measure to put a woman’s right to have an abortion in federal law.

In order to protect and preserve any rights, courageous leaders – in the press, in medicine, in law, in politics and in the church – have always recognized that they had to protect the fundamental rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Contemporary Christians can do no less.

Click here to ask Congress to pass the Informed Choice Act.

Source:  www.centerformoralclarity.net

There’s HOPE for Ethical Research!

There’s good and bad news this week from the U.S. Senate, where debate on federal funding for human embryonic stem-cell research ended with the approval of two diametrically opposed bills: The HOPE Act and the infamous Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act. The latter, which would advance medical experimentation at the expense of human life, was vetoed by President Bush last year.

Given that the president has promised to veto it again, it’s disappointing that legislators passed it anyway on a 63-34 vote Wednesday. The good news is that the margin is too narrow to override President Bush, who has voiced support for the ethical alternative – which the Senate also passed 70-28.

Here are the 28 senators who voted against the HOPE Act:

Baucus, D-Mont.; Bayh, D-Ind.; Bingaman, D-N.M.; Boxer, D-Calif.; Cantwell, D-Wash.; Cardin, D-Md.; Clinton, D-N.Y.; Durbin, D-Ill.; Feingold, D-Wis.; Feinstein, D- Calif.; Inouye, D-Hawaii; Kohl ,D-Wis.; Lautenberg, D-N.J.; Levin, D-Mich.; Lieberman, I-Conn.; Lincoln, D-Ariz.; Menendez, D-N.J.; Mikulski, D-Md.; Murray, D-Wash.; Nelson, D-Fla.; Obama, D-Ill.; Reid, D-Nev.; Rockefeller, D-W.V.; Sanders, I-Vt.; Schumer, D-N.Y.; Stabenow, D-Mich.; Tester, D-Mont.; Wyden, D-Ore. 

Click here to thank your senator for voting for the HOPE Act and supporting ethical research.

Although both legislative proposals would remove restrictions on the use of federal funds in pursuit of ground-breaking research to cure diseases, the Hope Offered through Principled Ethical Stem Cell Research – or HOPE Act – would forbid the creation, cloning or destruction of embryos. However, this bill would authorize research on embryos with no chance of survival. The Senate missed an opportunity to make a clear statement about the value of life. Instead, lawmakers are sending America a mixed message.

Stem-cell research is a complicated undertaking. This much, though, is clear – ending life at any stage of development is morally indefensible. Christians know that Scripture plainly admonishes against killing, and invoking the merits of research doesn’t change anything.

Ethical research using stem cells from adults and umbilical cord blood is already contributing to improving health conditions associated with more than 70 diseases and injuries. These advances dispel the notion that cloning, destruction of human embryos or exploiting women by harvesting their eggs are the only avenues for discovering new medical treatments.

“The current adversarial climate has made many Christians think they must choose between science and faith,” said Pastor Rod Parsley. “It has also convinced many decent men and women in the scientific community that they must reject all religious influence in order to be faithful to science.”

The fact that Bible believers condemn senseless destruction of life does not mean they want to stand in the way of all medical research. The HOPE Act would “promote the derivation of pluripotent stem-cell lines without the creation of human embryos” or destroying them. (Read and compare the bills for yourself: the HOPE Act vs. the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act.)

The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act isn’t just immoral; it would also be a foolish use of taxpayers’ money. Prudent and fiscally responsible lawmakers shouldn’t divert public funds from promising and less controversial research options. Of course, to some folks death is palatable when it occurs in a petri dish. Not so for Christians. Those who want research to continue, but also respect human life, are backing the HOPE Act.

Click here to thank your senator for voting for the HOPE Act and supporting ethical research.

Source:  www.centerformoralclarity.net

Induced Abortion is Murder

Prosecutors in Boston are ignoring the rights of a 1-pound girl whose death will go unpunished. Last week, state attorneys said they will not charge an 18-year-old Dominican immigrant with homicide even though she induced an abortion by taking anti-ulcer pills.

Prosecutors had been considering the more serious charge after Amber Abreu prematurely delivered a 1-pound girl named Ashley at Lawrence General Hospital on Jan. 6. The baby died four days later. According to authorities, Abreu, admitted that she had taken three Cytotec pills before giving birth. Cytotec is the brand name for misoprostol, which forms part of a government-approved abortion method. It is typically prescribed for ulcers.

This method of abortion is common in some Latin American communities. However, abortion is illegal in Massachusetts after 24 weeks of pregnancy, and any action to cause a miscarriage after that threshold could lead to homicide charges. This is such a case.

“Proponents of ‘choice’ have tried to make this issue about ‘women’s rights,’ ‘freedom of choice’ and ‘reproductive rights,’ said Pastor Rod Parsley. “But clearly, the murdering of an innocent child is far more than a health issue or a civil right. No amount of spin can outweigh the fact that abortion ends the life of a baby growing inside its mother’s womb.”

The state medical examiner determined that Abreu’s baby had been 25 weeks old at death. Prosecutors, however, decided that they would probably not be able to convince a jury that Ashley was a viable human being who had been killed. This was the wrong decision. It implies the state isn’t serious about the protecting innocent lives, and ignoring murder will only encourage other women to disobey the law.

Source:  www.centerformoralclarity.net

Adult Stem-Cell Research Takes a Hit

The latest news about the research potential of adult stem cells is disappointing, but it doesn’t diminish the moral objections for the alternative sacrificing life through human embryonic stem-cell research.

Click here to urge Congress to fund ethical medical research.

A scientific panel is questioning the 2002 study that suggested adult stem cells might be as useful as human embryonic ones was flawed, and its conclusions may be wrong. This new perspective raises questions on two fronts.

For scientists, bone marrow as a potential source for stem cells is less promising. For Christians, the possibility of advancing medical cures through ethical research is diminished. This setback, however, must not become an excuse for forsaking like through the expansion of experimentation on human embryos.

Five years ago, research by Catherine Verfaillie at the University of Minnesota concluded that stem cells taken from the bone marrow of mice could grow into an array of biological tissues, including the brain, heart, lung and liver (click here to read the original research findings). Currently, only human embryonic stem cells are known to hold such regenerative capability. The scientist acknowledged flaws in parts of the study after inquiries from the British publication New Scientist, which publicized its qualms with the research in its Feb. 15 edition (click here to read the article).

A panel of experts commissioned by the university determined that the process used to identify tissue derived from the adult stem cells was “significantly flawed, and that the interpretations based on these data, expressed in the manuscript, are potentially incorrect.” The panel also noted that the error was attributed to mistakes, not falsifications.

Since Verfaillie’s study was published in 2002, other researchers have been unable to duplicate her results.

The scientific community is now wrestling with the overall impact this new information will have. CMC members should pray that scientists will return to the lab and continue fine tuning their work with adult stem cells. For some, the easy answer is to put the effort into embryonic stem-cell research.

Just because something can be done doesn’t mean it should be done.

Certainly, Christians share the broader culture’s desire to treat people ailing with diseases and other conditions. No one would argue against improving the quality of life. In the case of embryonic stem-cell research, though, the ends do not justify the means. Bible believers must use their voice to call for moving forward without destroying embryos which, of course, are people.

The sanctity of life is not doled out in stages. It’s all inclusive from the moment of conception.

Experimenting with adult stem cells is not the only means of ethical medical research. This week, members of the medical community will conduct a Capitol Hill briefing on the use of cord blood to treat disease and disability and to call for full funding of the National Cord Blood Inventory (NCBI) program in the 2008 budget.

Three years ago Congress created the first national inventory to collect the needed units of blood and make them readily available. The legislation authorized collection of 150,000 units of cord blood, with a focus on genetic diversity that is expected to meet the needs of 90 percent of all patients. These units will be made available through an open registry that will link public cord blood banks nationwide to simplify a physician’s search for a blood match.

CMC applauds and encourages such medical advances.

Source:  www.centerformoralclarity.net

Adult Stem-Cell Research Takes a Hit

The latest news about the research potential of adult stem cells is disappointing, but it doesn’t diminish the moral objections for the alternative sacrificing life through human embryonic stem-cell research.

Click here to urge Congress to fund ethical medical research.

A scientific panel is questioning the 2002 study that suggested adult stem cells might be as useful as human embryonic ones was flawed, and its conclusions may be wrong. This new perspective raises questions on two fronts.

For scientists, bone marrow as a potential source for stem cells is less promising. For Christians, the possibility of advancing medical cures through ethical research is diminished. This setback, however, must not become an excuse for forsaking like through the expansion of experimentation on human embryos.

Five years ago, research by Catherine Verfaillie at the University of Minnesota concluded that stem cells taken from the bone marrow of mice could grow into an array of biological tissues, including the brain, heart, ling and liver (click here to read the original research findings). Currently, only human embryonic stem cells are known to hold such regenerative capability. The scientist acknowledged flaws in parts of the study after inquiries from the British publication New Scientist, which publicized its qualms with the research in its Feb. 15 edition (click here to read the article).

A panel of experts commissioned by the university determined that the process used to identify tissue derived from the adult stem cells was “significantly flawed, and that the interpretations based on these data, expressed in the manuscript, are potentially incorrect.” The panel also noted that the error was attributed to mistakes, not falsifications.

Since Verfaillie’s study was published in 2002, other researchers have been unable to duplicate her results.

The scientific community is now wrestling with the overall impact this new information will have. CMC members should pray that scientists will return to the lab and continue fine tuning their work with adult stem cells. For some, the easy answer is to put the effort into embryonic stem-cell research.

Just because something can be done doesn’t mean it should be done.

Certainly, Christians share the broader culture’s desire to treat people ailing with diseases and other conditions. No one would argue against improving the quality of life. In the case of embryonic stem-cell research, though, the ends do not justify the means. Bible believers must use their voice to call for moving forward without destroying embryos which, of course, are people.

The sanctity of life is not doled out in stages. It’s all inclusive from the moment of conception.

Experimenting with adult stem cells is not the only means of ethical medical research. This week, members of the medical community will conduct a Capitol Hill briefing on the use of cord blood to treat disease and disability and to call for full funding of the National Cord Blood Inventory (NCBI) program in the 2008 budget.

Three years ago Congress created the first national inventory to collect the needed units of blood and make them readily available. The legislation authorized collection of 150,000 units of cord blood, with a focus on genetic diversity that is expected to meet the needs of 90 percent of all patients. These units will be made available through an open registry that will link public cord blood banks nationwide to simplify a physician’s search for a blood match.

CMC applauds and encourages such medical advances.

Source:  www.centerformoralclarity.net