The Catholic Church & Adult Stem Cell Research
Because of the advancement of technology, many new discoveries, inventions, and modern strategies, particularly in the field of science and medicine, are being observed and continuously practiced. Most of them are useful and are considered to be medical breakthroughs because they provide different treatments to once incurable diseases, effective preventive measures, or alternatives to previous procedures and operations.
Issues regarding stem cell therapy
Among these technological developments is the adult stem cell therapy where diseased or dysfunctional stem cells are replaced by healthy, functioning ones. This process is necessary for the proper functioning of human body organs and treatment of infectious diseases. However, the therapeutic adult stem cells can be obtained primarily from aborted fetuses. In other words, an unborn child and the mother carrying it would have to suffer first before the adult stem cells that can help save lives can be acquired.
Because of the sensitive ethical issues associated with stem cells, different institutions in society have been debating over the legality and morality of this technological advancement. The Catholic Church, for example, does not approve of the adult stem cell therapy. On the other hand, the United States government still provides funds so that further research can be done regarding the matter.
While the research on adult and embryonic stem cells has been continuing for several years now, the National Bioethics Commission had commented on the research and had made some recommendations. In 2001, the White House announced its decision to allow the federal government to give funds for studies and researches to be done on the 64 lines of adult stem cells that came from destroyed human embryos. The surprising declaration caused a massive ethical and scientific debate. Many scientists, commentators, church leaders, and even civilians had joined in the debate.
Even the Vatican , headed by the late Pope John Paul II, had provided its perspective on the debate. Addressing the White house, the Pope had emphasized the position of the Catholic church on adult stem cell therapy by saying: “Experience is already showing how a tragic coarsening of consciences accompanies the assault on innocent human life in the womb, leading to accommodation and acquiescence in the face of other related evils such as euthanasia, infanticide and, most recently, proposals for the creation for research purposes of human embryos, destined to be destroyed in the process.”
While the Catholic Church remains open for other alternatives to the medical breakthrough brought by adult stem cell therapy, it insists that the sensible response to this issue is the recognition of the therapeutic adult stem cell procedure as an unjust scientific advancement. This position, together with the traditional defense regarding the respect for human life of the Church, drives the opposition to reconsider their stand on adult stem cell research.