Proclaiming the Truth about Stem Cell Research

By Bishop Paul S. Loverde
Herald Columnist
(From the issue of 9/7/06)

The following homily was given by Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde at the Respect Life Mass on Aug. 19 at Holy Spirit Parish in Annandale.
Permit me to use today’s Opening Prayer as a framework for our homily. “Lord, you know that our thoughts on earth are full of fear and uncertainty; through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, … send us the gift of counsel to teach us how to discern your will and to guide us in all we do.”
Surely, each one of us can relate from personal experience that often in real-life situations we are full of fear and uncertainty. What we truly need is the gift of counsel, the ability to discern what is right and good — what is God’s will, and God’s guidance in all we do.
So, in prayer, both at home and during the celebration of the Eucharistic Sacrifice, we plead that God will give us the light of His wisdom, fulfilling thereby the promise He made through the prophet Isaias in today’s first reading: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.” This light is none other than God’s only-begotten Son become flesh: Jesus Christ. Again, as Isaias promised, “For a child is born to us, a son is given us … . They name him Wonder-Counselor … .” Jesus came to reveal to us the Father’s desire that we be saved through Him, the Father’s will that we be led to heaven by hearing His Son and obeying His Word. That is why we hear in today’s gospel account Mary’s timeless advice, her counsel: “Do whatever He tells you.”
Seeking good counsel from Jesus through the intercession of His Mother is always a spiritual necessity in our pilgrimage toward the eternal glory of heaven. Seeking such good counsel is so necessary and crucial as we face challenging issues in the arena of Catholic moral living. I want to return to the issue of embryonic stem-cell research, so much in our consciousness these days and in the future. Yes, as we face this issue, out thoughts can be fearful and uncertain. The media project before us heart-rending examples of people, young and old, who, we are told, would so greatly profit from embryonic stem-cell research. And then, we are reminded by the media that the Catholic Church opposes such research. Unless we are well-informed — and we should be — we could easily be swept into a false and erroneous understanding and evaluation of this real-life issue of embryonic stem-cell research.
What amazes me is that the real story, the true and verifiable story, does not get told by the majority of the media. Without a doubt, our hearts are deeply moved by the plight of those suffering illness and indeed we want to find a way to alleviate, to decrease and to eliminate their particular form of illness. So then, why are we as a Church opposed to embryonic stem cell research? Precisely because it is embryonic stem cell research, in which the embryo, the beginning of human life is destroyed. Such research destroys real human life in order to find a way to save life. The most vulnerable human person in our society is being willfully destroyed.
Why is it that the media does not tell us the real truth: namely, that while embryonic stem cell research has yet to produce one human instance of a remedy or cure, adult and umbilical cord stem cell research has already resulted in a number of illnesses being diminished or even cured. Let me offer two examples:
“Woman’s Lukemia goes into remission after beginning treatment with adult stem cells” — Patrizia Durante was diagnosed with acute leukemia during her first pregnancy. After being given six months to live, she was treated with stem cells from her daughter’s umbilical cord. Patrizia Durante’s cancer is now in full remission.
“Man suffering with Parkinson’s disease life made easier with Adult Stem Cell treatment” — “Dennis Turner was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease and by early 1991 he suffered extreme shaking of the right side of his body and became unable to use his right arm. His doctor removed a small tissue sample from his brain, isolated adult neural stem cells. He multiplied and matured these cells to nerve cells, and injected them back into the left side of Mr. Turner’s brain, which controls the right side of the body. Soon afterwards, the Parkinson’s symptoms began to improve in his right side. His trembling decreased, until to all appearances it disappeared. His improvement lasted for about five years. Because Parkinson’s is a progressive ailment, his condition is continuing to deteriorate, but as Mr. Turner recently testified at a U.S. Senate Committee hearing, ‘ … I have no doubt that because of this treatment I’ve enjoyed five years of quality life that I feared had passed me by.’ He enthusiastically expressed a willingness to undergo a repeat surgery of this sort to further slow the progression of his symptoms.”
What is clear is that embryonic stem-cell research is nothing less than human experimentation, producing no verifiable and beneficial results, while adult and umbilical cord stem-cell research is verifiably beneficial, with a great potential for even greater good. Why do we choose that which is immoral and non-productive while ignoring and even rejecting that which is both moral and beneficial?
On July 19, 2006, President Bush vetoed H.R. 810, which would have forced U.S. taxpayers to encourage the destruction of human embryos for their stem cells. Later, the president insisted that progress in treating devastating diseases must be pursued in ways that are both effective and morally sound. He said that ethics and science must not be placed at odds, but work together to serve the cause of humanity. The day before, on July 18, the U.S. Senate approved a bill, encouraging the destruction of human embryos for their stem cells. I quote the strong response of the USCCB’s Office for Pro-Life Activities.
“By approving a bill to encourage the destruction of human embryos for their stem cells today, the U.S. Senate has done a disservice to human life and to the cause of medical progress. No technical achievement is ‘progress’ if it takes us backwards in respect for human life. H.R. 810’s focus on research that destroys embryos also ignores effective and morally acceptable treatments using adult and umbilical cord stem cells, which have already begun to treat patients with dozens of illnesses. Because it takes resources away from these effective avenues, the drive for embryonic stem cell research actually threatens to harm patients themselves.”
Yes, in the weeks and months ahead, we need to be recommitted in our efforts to proclaim the truth about embryonic stem-cell research. We need to be filled with the good counsel which comes from Jesus through Mary. We need to bring the light of clarifying truth into this issue, so surrounded by understandable emotions and distorted statements. Our conviction will lead us to rational and persuasive discussion and to actions which will both uphold the protection of human life as it is present in the human embryo and further the search for morally sound treatments. God’s Will for us is that always and everywhere we defend, support and protect human life from its first moment of conception until its end at natural death. Rightly will we pray after Communion: “Grant that we may learn what is pleasing to you.” Yes, may we do this fully and faithfully in every issue of life.