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E-mail: info@njcathconf.com
Web:
www.njcathconf.com
William
F. Bolan, Jr., J.D.
Executive Director
March 18, 2005
A C
T I O
N A L
E R T
Acting
Governor Codey’s Proposal to Fund
The Stem Cell
Institute of
ISSUE &
POSITION: The
Catholic Bishops of New Jersey are opposed to Acting Governor Codey’s
proposal. The Bishops consistently
opposed the human embryonic stem cell research legislation on the basis that
creation and destruction of human embryonic stem cells violate the sanctity of
human life. In their written statement
on that legislation, they said, “it is more important than ever to stand for
the principle that government must not treat any living human being as research
material, as a mere means for benefit to others. Research that relies on the destruction of
some defenseless human being for the possible benefit to others is morally
unacceptable.”
However,
the Catholic Bishops do support research on adult (non-embryonic) stem cells.
Adult (non-embryonic) stem cells come from adult tissue, placentas, or
umbilical cord blood and can be retrieved without harming the donor. Adult (non-embryonic) stem cells have helped
thousands of patients, and new clinical uses expand almost weekly. After two decades of research, embryonic stem
cells have not helped a single human being.
(See, for example, www.stemcellresearch.org). Thus, the burdens of those failures are being
placed on the backs of the taxpayers in
ACTION: Contact
Acting Governor, Richard J. Codey, your State Senator and two Assembly members
and deliver the following message:
“I
am opposed to the Acting Governor’s proposal
to Fund construction of the Stem Cell
Institute and
stem Cell research grants, whether this
funding comes
from a ballot initiative, bonds, or the
State Budget.”
You
may contact the Governor as follows:
Telephone (609) 292-6000, Fax (609) 292-3454, or E-mail at: www.state.nj.us/governor/govmail.html.
If
you do not know who your Senator or Assembly members are, call the Office of
Legislative Services at 800-792-8630 or go to the Legislative Website at: http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/.
Representing the Archdiocese of
Diocese of
Our Lady of Deliverance Syriac
Catholic Diocese