Why Is The Catholic Church Against Stem Cell Research?

By Deacon Nick Schwartz

Let me be clear about the Catholic position on stem cells right from the start: the Church is not against stem cell research. In fact she applauds the medical advances that can be learned from adult stem cells. The Church is, however, against one particular type of stem cell research, and that’s embryonic stem cell research. But you wouldn’t know that from the news media.

A stem cell is essentially a “blank” cell, capable of becoming another more differentiated cell type in the body, such as a skin cell, a muscle cell, or a nerve cell. Microscopic in size, stem cells are big news in medical and science circles because they can be used to replace or even heal damaged tissues and cells in the body. They can serve as a built-in repair system for the human body, replenishing other cells as long as a person is still alive.

Adult stem cells can be harvested from volunteers with no harm to the donor. Embryonic stem cells, on the other hand, can only be obtained by the destruction of an unborn child at the embryonic stage. Consequently, the Church condemns this practice as gravely immoral on the same grounds she opposes murder in any form. (Other forms of stem cell research that does not require the destruction of human embryos are acceptable to the Church.)

In his inaugural address, President Obama took a swipe at those of us who oppose embryonic stem cell research on moral grounds when he said, “We’ll restore science to its rightful place.” Then, in March of 2009, he issued an executive order ending an eight-year moratorium on federally funded experiments on new embryonic stem cell lines. The president told the National Institutes of Health to develop guidelines for the “ethical use” of embryonic stem cell lines.

Of course, if you are truly concerned about the “ethical use” of embryonic stem cells, your guidelines need only be three words long: “Don’t use them.” But, as is often the case in medical research, “ethical” is just another word for “rationalization.”

Now, you would think from all the news reports that embryonic stem cells hold the greatest promise for modern day “medical miracles,” and adult stem cells are not of much use. The fact is, just the opposite is true. As of this moment, no therapies in humans have ever been successfully carried out using embryonic stem cells. None! But non-controversial adult stem cells from bone marrow, umbilical cord blood and other tissues are treating thousands of patients around the world right now. It is estimated that over 50,000 adult stem cell transplants occur every year worldwide, treating over 70 different diseases and conditions, including leukemia, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and stroke.

Most Americans don’t know this. All we see are celebrities and politicians gushing over the potential for embryo-destructive stem cell research, even while lives are being saved today using adult stem cell therapy. The problem with all this misdirected “hype” is that multi-million dollar grants are being made available for embryo-destructive research, but money is scarce for its morally sound counterpart, adult stem cell research.

For the Catholic Church there is no contradiction between faith and science. The Church has a reasoned and thoughtful position on embryonic stem cell research, but the people in power are not listening to the Church. That is why we need to be informed in order to help shape the public debate, and encourage our leaders to forget about embryonic stem cell research, and to fund proven, morally unproblematic adult stem cell research.