…No Matter How Small

By: American Decency Staff

In one of the few pieces of encouraging news these days, District Court Judge Royce Lamberth recently blocked an executive order from President Obama that accelerated embryonic stem cell research. Stem cells are cells that are characterized by their ability to evolve into various cells that scientists hope can be used to cure diseases like cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and spinal cord injuries. However, there are 2 different types of stem cells: embryonic stem cells which are taken from a human embryo (the embryo is destroyed in the process) and adult stem cells which are found in umbilical cords and bone marrow. Those of us who are pro-life believe that the destruction of an embryo is the destruction of a life, while adult stem cells are viable for many of the same uses, but without an act of murder.According to David Prentice, from the Family Research Council (via OneNewsNow.com), "There are already published results from a number of patients where adult stem cells from the patients have gotten patients movement, sensation, even walking again — but it's only with adult stem cells" and "Based on the published science, there are close to 80 different diseases and injuries and conditions where adult stem cells have already shown published scientific results improving patient health." Embryonic stem cell research has been a controversial subject for quite some time now, and since a presidential ban by Former President Bush in 2001 that allowed research on only the 20 stem cell lines already created, new federal funding had not been allocated to scientists studying embryonic stem cells. However, shortly after taking office, President Barack Obama issued an executive order that directed that that ban be lifted. It is this order that the district court judge ruled to be unconstitutional. Judge Lamberth’s decision pointed out that "The Dickey-Wicker Amendment unambiguously prohibits the use of federal funds for all research in which a human embryo is destroyed. It is not limited to prohibit federal funding of only the 'piece of research' in which an embryo is destroyed. Thus, if ESC [embryonic stem cell] research is research in which an embryo is destroyed, the guidelines, by funding ESC research, violate the Dickey-Wicker Amendment." The Dickey-Wicker Amendment was a part of a bill signed by President Clinton in 1995. This judge’s decision is all that holds America back from funding this disgusting research on human embryos. There is nothing moral about destroying one life to better another. Please pray that even as Obama’s Justice Department appeals this decision, God has mercy and prevents us from this heinous sin.

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