The Catholic Conference of Ohio sent the address below to Gov. Ted Strickland and members of the Ohio General Assembly July 25. The address expresses the bishops’ disappointment with the governor’s veto of a provision within the economic stimulus legislation (HB554) that would have banned the use of state funding for embryonic stem cell research related to human cloning.

In emphasizing their opposition to the use of public dollars to support public and private funding of embryonic stem cell research, the bishops note: “By prohibiting state funds from being used for research on human embryos, the ban would have encouraged funding for research using adult stem cells which do not involve the destruction of human life and which have already proven to be of great medical benefit.”

The governor and state legislators also received a copy of On Embryonic Stem Cell Research: A Statement of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. The USCCB released this statement June 13, the day following Gov. Strickland’s veto.

The Catholic Conference of Ohio is composed of the six Roman Catholic dioceses in the state — Cleveland, Columbus Cincinnati, Steubenville, Youngstown and Toledo — along with the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma, the Romanian Catholic Eparchy of Canton,  and the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy Diocese of St. Josaphat.

Concerns Regarding Embryonic Stem Cell Research: An Address to Governor Strickland and the Elected State Officials from the Catholic Bishops of Ohio

Stem cell research continues to generate heated debate within Ohio’s General Assembly. On June 12, Governor Strickland vetoed a ban on state funding for embryonic stem cell research related to human cloning. The General Assembly placed this ban within the Ohio economic stimulus legislation, HB 554. By prohibiting state funds from being used for research on human embryos, the ban would have encouraged funding for research using adult stem cells which do not involve the destruction of human life and which have already proven to be of great medical benefit.
  
The Catholic Bishops of Ohio are deeply disappointed in the Governor’s veto. The ban provided a reasonable approach to research that does not produce human embryos solely to destroy them for their stem cells. Without this ban, the Ohio Biomedical Development Program may distribute state funds to both public and private institutions and enterprises for a purpose that is gravely immoral. Public dollars and state-sponsored programs ought not make taxpayers complicit in such action, especially when viable alternatives are available.

Issues surrounding stem cell research are indeed complex, emotional, and often confusing. All of us desire new cures and more effective medical treatments. Many well-intentioned persons believe that the potential good of future medical breakthroughs outweighs the need to protect human life from its very inception. The suffering of patients and families affected by devastating illness most certainly deserves our compassion and our committed response. However, this response should not be made at the expense of another human life. The equal protection of each human life, no matter how small, is one of our country’s founding principles.

The Catholic Church is not opposed to biomedical research. We strongly support research efforts with adult stem cells. These cells have already been used successfully and show tremendous promise. Stem cells from adult tissues and umbilical cord blood are now known to be much more versatile than once thought. These cells are now in widespread use to treat many kinds of cancer and other illnesses, and in clinical trials they have already benefited patients suffering from heart disease, corneal damage, sickle-cell anemia, multiple sclerosis, and many other devastating conditions. Researchers have even developed new non-destructive methods for producing cells with the properties of embryonic stem cells — for example, by “reprogramming” adult cells. We have no moral objection to research and therapy of this kind when it involves no harm to human beings at any stage of development and is conducted with appropriate informed consent.

We call upon Governor Strickland and members of Ohio’s General Assembly to focus state dollars and state resources on adult stem cell research. Ohio should disengage in any and all efforts that destroy embryonic human life, and instead, strive to become a world leader in adult stem cell research.

We respectfully invite and encourage our elected leaders and all citizens to support public policy that respects the dignity of each and every human life.

Most Reverend Daniel E. Pilarczyk, Archbishop of Cincinnati, Chairman, Board of Directors, Catholic Conference of Ohio on behalf of the Catholic Conference of Ohio