News Release: Catholic Conference Responds to Formation of Embryonic Stem Cell Research Ballot Committee

(LANSING)—Michigan Catholic Conference President and Chief Executive Officer Sister Monica Kostielney, R.S.M., made the following statement today regarding the formation of the ballot question committee “Stem Cell Research BQC”:

“In order to protect human life at its most vulnerable stage, any proposal, legislative or ballot related, that seeks to clone and/or kill human embryos in this state must be defeated. According to a statewide Public Opinion Strategies poll, 77 percent of Michigan residents oppose ‘a proposal that would allow the killing of human embryos and using their stem cells for research.’ Human life is not a commodity that can be created and killed in an effort to generate profits and patents. Michigan Catholic Conference will continue to advocate for ethical and proven adult stem cell research that is currently helping to provide treatments, even cures, for over 70 different diseases and chronic ailments.”

On October 1 the Michigan Catholic Conference launched a massive statewide internal education program that sought to communicate the differences between adult and embryonic stem cell research and to convey the Church’s support for adult stem cell research. The education program was unprecedented in the Conference’s history and called for over 500,000 Catholic homes to learn more about the facts of stem cell research as it relates to the Church’s obligation to help the sick while protecting human life. Nearly 800 parishes also received educational information from the Conference and were encouraged to address the issue of stem cell research during Respect Life Sunday, October 7.

Michigan Catholic Conference is the official public policy voice of the Catholic Church in this state.

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