We welcome recent scientific advances in medicine's ability to diagnose, treat, and cure various kinds of diseases. We vigorously oppose, however, any research that depends on the intentional killing, destroying, and dismembering of pre-born human beings.
Stem Cell Research
A stem cell is sometimes called a "generic" cell and it is a cell that can make copies of itself indefinitely, and can also produce specialized cells for various tissues in the body. Scientists have great hopes of using stem cells to cure various diseases.
Research is being conducted with two types of stem cells, embryonic and adult. Embryonic stem cells are obtained from either aborted fetuses or clinically produced embryos. Adult stem cells are obtained from born children or adults. To date, research using embryonic stem cells has not had favorable results, while that using adult stem cells have in been very positive.
We support adult stem cell research but oppose embryonic.
Cloning
Human cloning has been the focus of much moral, ethical, and political debate. Scientists have separated human cloning into two types--research or therapeutic and reproductive--but there is actually no distinction because all human cloning results in the creation of a new human embryo.
The difference between research and reproductive cloning is what happens to the embryo after it is created. Research cloning involves cloning human embryos for purposes such as pulling stem cells, after which the embryos die. Reproductive cloning involves allowing the cloned embryo to grow and be born.
We oppose all forms of human cloning.
Cloning legislation information is available from the National Right to Life web site.
Fetal Experimentation
Fetal experiments generally fall into two categories:
- Experimentation on early pre-born children. This usually involves research on human embryos resulting from in-vitro fertilization (IVF), up to about 14 days after fertilization, e.g., embryonic stem cell research and human cloning techniques
- Experimentation on pre-born babies aborted alive from 8 weeks after fertilization until the moment of birth, e.g., fetal tissue research
