News Release: Michigan Catholic Conference Welcomes Announcement of Non-Embryo Destructive Stem Cell Research Advancement

(LANSING)—Michigan Catholic Conference Vice President for Public Policy Paul Long made the following statement today regarding a study in the online journal Nature, and reported in the Washington Post, that stem cell researchers have discovered an additional way to pursue stem cell research while avoiding the destruction of embryos:

“Michigan Catholic Conference welcomes today’s news of yet another scientific advancement that allows researchers to pursue ethical and proven stem cell research without the need to destroy living human embryos. The announcement, made in the online journal Nature, reports that researchers have found a way to coax virus-free skin cells into an embryonic stem cell-like state while avoiding the ethical and moral landmine of intentionally destroying human embryos. It is the hope of the Conference that state lawmakers will pursue legislation that enables non-embryo destructive stem cell research to flourish in Michigan, such as measures introduced last year that promote Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Research.”

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

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