The USCCB statement “On Embryonic Stem Cell Research,” approved 191 to 1, is now available.
John McCain and Barack Obama, take note:
Our nation’s Declaration of Independence took for granted that human beings are unequal in size, strength, and intelligence. Yet it declared that members of the human race who are unequal in all these respects are created equal in their fundamental rights, beginning with the right to life. Tragically, this principle of equal human rights for all has not always been followed in practice, even by the Declaration’s signers. But in our nation’s proudest moments Americans have realized that we cannot dismiss or exclude any class of humanity—that basic human rights must belong to all members of the human race without distinction. In light of modern knowledge about the continuity of human development from conception onwards, all of us—without regard to religious affiliation—confront this challenge again today when we make decisions about human beings at the embryonic stage of development.
June 15, 2008 at 12:14 am
191-1. Who was the 1??
June 15, 2008 at 12:37 am
My question as well, and I’m curious why.
June 15, 2008 at 6:11 am
Excellent news! And who in the heck voted against this?
June 15, 2008 at 6:16 am
[...] to our bishops (except for the one guy who voted against it). You can read the statement here. PermaLink | | Trackback/Pingback [...]
June 15, 2008 at 12:52 pm
It seems about as much of a stretch–if not more–to invoke “all men are created equal” in opposition to stem-cell research as it is to invoke it in favor of gay marriage. Surely Thomas Jefferson and the Founders hadn’t a hint of either issue in mind when the Declaration was written.
June 15, 2008 at 1:42 pm
David – You’re right… they hadn’t understood it to include blacks or women, so I’m not sure why it’s helpful to invoke it today.
Who knows why the on bishop voted against it… could have been the language used… could have been anything. It doesn’t necessarily mean he disagreed with the central point of the statement.
June 15, 2008 at 2:48 pm
This will have little to no bearing on the November election results.
June 15, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Ah, but “original intent” is only important when it supports your political beliefs, not otherwise…
June 15, 2008 at 10:12 pm
It was probably Mahoney
June 15, 2008 at 10:24 pm
btw… The comment above was made in anticipation to somebody else’s prediction… not because I necessarily believe it.