New Jersey Catholic Conference
149 North Warren Street · Trenton,
New Jersey 08608
(609) 989-1120 · Fax (609) 989-1152
Patrick
R. Brannigan
Executive Director
June 18, 2007
Statement of the
Human Stem Cell Research
The
New Jersey Catholic Conference opposes State general obligation bonds for the
purpose of financing the costs of embryonic stem cell research or funding research
facilities for the conduct of embryonic stem cell research.
In testimony over the years, the
New Jersey Catholic Conference has consistently opposed human embryonic stem
cell research legislation on the basis that the creation and destruction of
human embryonic stem cells violate the sanctity of human life.
A fundamental tenet of Catholic social teaching is that each human life is sacred. Scripture calls us to have a special concern for the vulnerable whether they are young, old, disabled, poor, hungry, homeless, physically ill, mentally ill or unborn.
The
sanctity of human life, which begins at conception, is the gift of a loving
God. We support the right to life of
unborn children because they are fully human.
We oppose experimentation on, and utilization of, unborn children, their
tissues, and embryonic stem cells.
However,
we do advocate the use of adult (non-embryonic) stem cells that have been shown
to offer promise in the fight to eradicate heartbreaking diseases that are
debilitating and life-threatening. 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 hold much promise for the
future.
The Catholic Conference has been
pleased to have worked with Assemblymen Neil Cohen and Louis Greenwald in an
effort to encourage umbilical cord and placental blood donation.
All New Jersey Catholic
Hospitals, hundreds of Catholic parishes, the
Catholic Healthcare Partnership of New Jersey and
all of New Jersey’s Catholic Bishops have endorsed this initiative and are
working with the two public umbilical blood banks in New Jersey to actively
support adult stem cell research.
Representing the Archdiocese of
Diocese of
Our Lady of Deliverance Syriac Catholic Diocese