AFP: Pope admonishes Pelosi on duty to protect unborn

The Pope

Pope admonishes Pelosi on duty to protect unborn

VATICAN CITY (AFP) — Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday admonished visiting US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Catholic who advocates abortion rights, that “all Catholics” should uphold the Church’s teachings on life.

Benedict “took the opportunity to speak of the requirements of the natural moral law and the Church’s consistent teaching on the dignity of human life from conception to natural death,” the Vatican said in a statement.

These “enjoin all Catholics, and especially legislators, jurists as well as those responsible for the common good of society to work in cooperation with all men and women of good will in creating a just system of laws capable of protecting human life at all stages of its development,” the statement said.

Pelosi, the highest-ranking US official to see the pope since President Barack Obama took office last month, describes herself as an “ardent” Catholic while advocating reproductive rights.

via AFP: Pope admonishes Pelosi on duty to protect unborn.

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Vatican condemns embryo stem cell research, cloning

Pope Benedict

Pope Benedict XVI arrives to lead his general audience in Saint Peter’s square at the Vatican September 24, 2008.

Photograph by: Tony Gentile, Reuters

VATICAN CITY – A Vatican bioethics document Friday condemned artificial fertilization and other techniques used by many couples and also said human cloning, “designer babies” and embryonic stem-cell research were immoral.

via Vatican condemns embryo stem cell research, cloning.

Carroll: New seven deadly sins have relevance to business | Athens Banner-Herald

7_deadly_sins

Carroll: New seven deadly sins have relevance to business

Athens Banner-Herald | Story updated at 3:34 pm on 2/21/2009

My last column addressed the “old” seven deadly sins. That list included pride, envy, gluttony, lust, anger, greed and sloth.

To be sure, each of these in various forms can have adverse consequences as they are manifested in the workplace.

Today’s subject is the set of “new” deadly sins as articulated by the Vatican last year. Reverberating from the seven cardinal vices, set forth by Pope Gregory I in the 6th century, the new list combines a social dimension, according to Bishop Gianfranco Girotti, the Vatican spokesman.

…The new seven mortal sins include: genetic modification, human experimentation, polluting the environment, social injustice, causing poverty, financial gluttony and drug abuse. Each of these has a business ethics dimension and relevance today…

…

► The category of human experimentation apparently is directed toward some morally dubious (embryonic) stem-cell research.

According to a member of the President’s Council on Bioethics, the debate over (embryonic) stem-cell research centers on the basic question regarding the moral status of a human embryo.

The public has been divided on (embryonic) stem-cell research. A recent survey found that 61 percent of the adults polled supported it and 31 percent opposed it.

One big issue in this arena seems to be how the embryos were obtained…

via Carroll: New seven deadly sins have relevance to business | Athens Banner-Herald.

STEM CELLS IN 2000 – The pope, Bill Clinton and stem cells (a look back)

STEM CELLS IN 2000 – The pope, Bill Clinton and stem cells (a look back)

popejohnpaul_billclinton

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September 02, 2000 - By Gordon Prather -

© 2009 WorldNetDaily.com

Well, you probably don’t expect Pope John Paul II and Bible-toting Bill to agree on abortion. So you were probably not surprised that, after Clinton announced the Final Federal Guidelines on Pluripotent Stem Cell research

last week, the pope immediately addressed in English an international congress being held in Rome of the Transplantation Society.

The Pope said, “Attempts at human cloning with a view to obtaining organs for transplants … insofar as they involve the manipulation and destruction of human embryos, are not morally acceptable.”

Now some newsies reported that the pope had come out against “cloning” humans, which he hadn’t. And from some news accounts you may have supposed that Bill Clinton had completely reversed his position of only three years ago, prohibiting the cloning of humans, which he hadn’t.

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=20079

BILL CLINTON BACKS MICHIGAN STEM CELL PROP 2

Bill Clinton backs Michigan’s Prop 2

By Alexa Stanard 10/13/08 6:52 AM

Former president Bill Clinton speaks Friday on behalf of CureMichigan. (photo: Alexa Stanard)

Former President Bill Clinton rallied a star-studded Michigan political crowd Friday to support a ballot proposal that would permit embryonic stem-cell research in the state.

Clinton appeared at the upscale fund-raiser hosted by CureMichigan, the organization backing Proposal 2, which will appear on the Nov. 4 ballot.  He called support for stem-cell research “the pro-life position” and cited the research’s potential benefits both to those facing health problems like Alzheimer’s and Lou Gehrig’s disease and to Michigan’s struggling economy.

“There isn’t a person here who doesn’t know someone who could be benefited by this work,” Clinton told the crowd of several hundred in Waterford Township, northwest of Detroit. “This is not about cloning. This is about letting Michigan do what can be done in almost any other state.”…

http://michiganmessenger.com/6192/bill-clinton-backs-michigans-prop-2

EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS, CLONING & ANIMAL OOCYTES FAIL TO DELIVER

dolly & her clone

“It had been hoped that substitute animal oocytes (immature egg cell) could help generate patient-specific stem cells for therapeutic applications.”

Damn and we were so close!  Now, in order to treat patients, we have to rely on adult stem cells from a persons own body which have proven over almost a decade of application that they work, have virtually no side effects, no potential for rejection and do not develop into tumors.  Wait, this is a good thing!

-DG

A blow for animal oocytes and embryonic stem cells

19 February 2009

A new study has demonstrated that animal oocytes lack the capacity to fully reprogramme adult human cells, delivering a blow to many in the scientific industry. It had been hoped that substitute animal oocytes could help generate patient-specific stem cells for therapeutic applications.

Since the cloning of Dolly the Sheep more than a decade ago, somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) has been considered a promising method for creating personalized stem cells. Because of the shortage of human donor eggs, cows, rabbits and other animals have long been considered a possible surrogate source of eggs. Although previous reports have documented the formation of cloned embryos using both human and animal eggs, to date there have been no data indicating whether — and to what extent — the donor DNA was reprogrammed.

The study, published in Cloning and Stem Cells…

http://www.ptemag.com/pharmtecheurope/Latest+News/A-blow-for-animal-oocytes-and-stem-cells/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/581348?contextCategoryId=45298

SOUTH PARK TACKLES THE ISSUE OF STEM CELLS

Stem cells and South Park.

The appearance of stem cells in main stream media.

southpark

WARNING!

The South Park TV Series is at best:

an animated American television comedy series famous for its off-color humor, pop culture parody, and biting satire covering a wide range of topics. -wiki

At worst, others have said that it is extremely distasteful, morally bankrupt, offensive and vile.  When they tackle the issue of Embryonic Stem Cells they show absolutely zero restraint and tact.

This is not for the faint of heart or sensitive viewer. In these episodes are scenes of abortion, eating fetuses, etc.  Honestly, if you are pro-life, do not watch these!  You will be disgusted! You have been warned!

(Consider this…a pro adult stem cell post)

Another Shakeys Pizza -Season 5 -Kenny Dies: Eric goes to the research lab to learn more about stem cells and how they might save Kenny’s life. Now he must find a way to persuade the government to revoke the ban.

http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/153150/?tag=Stem+Cell+Research

Worst Friend Ever -Season 5 -Kenny Dies: Stan finally musters up the courage to go see Kenny, but he’s too late. Cartman used up all the baby fetuses to replicate his own Shakey’s Pizzeria.

http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/153164/?tag=Stem+Cell+Research

Superman Arrives -Season 7 -Krazy Kripples: Christopher Reeve comes to South Park to promote stem cell research. Jimmy is not a fan.

http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/153882/?tag=Stem+Cell+Research

Larry King Show -Season 7 -Krazy Kripples: Christopher Reeve demonstrates the unique healing properties of stem cells during an interview with Larry King.

http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/153890/?tag=Stem+Cell+Research

Unplanned Pregnancy -Season 5 -Kenny Dies: Ms. Anders agrees to donate her aborted child to stem-cell research. But the truck carrying the fetuses crashes through a guardrail, and Cartman discovers the wreckage in the snow.

http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/104363/?tag=Stem+Cell+Research

What an Inspiration -Season 7 -Krazy Kripples: After Jimmy gets a ride home from his new friends, Christopher Reeve gives a public demonstration of how fetus ingestion can make him walk.

http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/153901/?tag=Stem+Cell+Research

Legion Of Doom -Season 7 -Krazy Kripples: Christopher Reeve is about to attempt world domination when Gene Hackman thwarts him by passing a ban on stem cell research.

http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/153924/?tag=Stem+Cell+Research

Jewish Law – Articles (“The Preembryo in Halacha”)

Jewish Law – Examining Halacha, Jewish Issues and Secular Law

The Preembryo in Halacha

Rabbi Yitzchok Breitowitz

The development of new reproductive technologies over the past 15 or so years has offered great hope to many infertile couples. Along with the blessings they bring, however, these technologies are also a source of major ethical dilemmas. For the Jew whose every decision is guided by the Davar Hashem, it is the halacha to which he or she must turn. The specific topic of this paper concerns the halachic status of the preembryo, a particular configuration of human cells that did not really exist in externalized form until the advent of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) in the late 1970′s.1

In-vitro fertilization may exist in various forms but at its simplest, it involves the extraction of immature eggs (oocytes) from a woman’s ovaries, the placement of those eggs in a petri dish which is supplied with nutrients, the obtaining of sperm from a donor, the fertilization of the egg in the dish, the transplantation of the fertilized ovum into the woman’s uterus (usually at the 48-72 hour developmental stage)2. If all goes well, the embryo will implant and a pregnancy will ensue and be detectable within 10-14 days after the transfer. Since the procedure was first introduced in 1978, over 25,000 IVF babies have been born. The average take-home baby rate is 17%; 19% for women under 39, 66% for older women. “Preembryo” is the term often used for a fertilized ovum that has not yet been transferred into a uterus…

via Jewish Law – Articles (“The Preembryo in Halacha”).

Scientists Say First Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research Trial Has Problems

Scientists Say First Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research Trial Has Problems

by Steven Ertelt -LifeNews.com Editor -January 29, 2009

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — Last week, the Food and Drug Administration suddenly reversed course following the inauguration of President Barack Obama and approved the use of embryonic stem cells for human trial. Now, some scientists say the research is not yet ready for prime time.

Embryonic stem cell research has never cured or helped any patients to this point. Only the use of adult stem cells and treatments derived from them have cured or reduced the effects of any diseases or conditions afflicting patients.

via Scientists Say First Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research Trial Has Problems.

Stem Cell Science Experts Release Letter Urging U.S. Commitment to all Avenues of Stem Cell Research

Stem Cell Science Experts Release Letter Urging U.S. Commitment to all Avenues of Stem Cell Research

“Stem cell research of all types urgently needs U.S. support,” an open letter from The International Society for Stem Cell Research and other leading scientists advocates.

Stem cell research of all types urgently needs U.S. support

Embryonic stem cell research, together with breakthroughs in iPS and adult stem cell technologies will together yield the insights that make medical advances possible

We need to ensure that researchers are equipped to use all fruitful innovations to probe the basic biomedical principles that underlie medical research and treatment

As members of the stem cell research community, our ultimate goal is curing illness and alleviating human suffering. As physicians and scientists, we face an urgent call to protect the principles of scientific freedom – not for the sake of science itself but for the sake of the patients we serve

We believe that science and society have a partnership: science to find out how nature works, and society to judge and regulate the operations of science. In California, where all kinds of stem cell research are allowed and funded, several levels of regulation protect patients and society at all stages of research and therapy.

It is in the best interests of our patients that we keep every promising avenue of stem cell research open

Deerfield, IL (PRWEB) October 21, 2008 — The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) joined with other leading scientists to issue an open letter to reiterate the urgent need for U.S. support for all types of stem cell research. The Society is the world’s preeminent professional organization of stem cell researchers.

The letter is in response to critics who, the authors state, are using recent advances in adult stem cell research to advocate for restrictions on embryonic stem cell research. These scientists warn that efforts to favor one arm of stem cell research at the expense of another are based on unsound interpretations of scientific discoveries.

“Embryonic stem cell research, together with breakthroughs in iPS and adult stem cell technologies will together yield the insights that make medical advances possible,” said Dr. George Q. Daley, ISSCR past-president and associate director of the Stem Cell Program at Children’s Hospital Boston. “We need to ensure that researchers are equipped to use all fruitful innovations to probe the basic biomedical principles that underlie medical research and treatment,”

via Stem Cell Science Experts Release Letter Urging U.S. Commitment to all Avenues of Stem Cell Research.