Stem Cell Research

    American Christians have been arguing with our government every since some used the Bible to support loyalty to the King of England and others quoted verses bolstering freedom.  Thus, we had a national tradition before we had a nation.  A more current issue however, has three quarreling groups instead of the traditional two.  Now Christians, politicians, and scientists are arguing over the use of embryonic stem cells.

    Please do not totally misunderstand me.  I realize that some Christians are not pro-life and that many non-Christian scientists are.  However, a great number of scientists, as well as the American media, are using lengthy words such as “somatic cell nuclear transfer”.  Nothing is wrong with using exact scientific terminology.  However, the average American hears that and thinks “Sounds scientific, must be right.” never realizing that all that basically means “human cloning”.  Many people get very excited when they hear that this research could save lives.  They also get very upset when they hear that pro-life groups want to outlaw this research.  They call us hypocrites when we say that we are pro-life and try to stop research that has the potential to save lives.

    Despite the fact that the media attempts to blind the public, pro-lifers are not stopping or hindering life saving research.  An article by Dawn Vargo, a research assistant at Focus on the Family, shows that adult stem cells can do everything that embryonic stem cells can-and possibly more.  Although embryonic stem cells have not yet successfully treated anyone, adult stem cell therapy already has a successful record of accomplishment.  The true hypocrites are those that say that it is better to mutilate microscopic human lives in order to possibly save lives.

    John Melton of Harvard confronted the core of this argument.  He says, “Often times this issue is discussed in terms of ‘when does life begin?’  I think of it more as ‘when does a person begin?’ And personhood for me is a process.  The fertilized egg has the potential to become a person but it won’t necessarily become a person.”  A process?  And by the way, what does “personhood” mean in the first place?  Am I less of a person than one of you adults because I am not as “processed” as you are?  These people are making human beings sound like bologna.  I guess Methuselah was the most processed ever!  Seriously though, I know of kids that are quite a bit younger than I am that, in ways, are smarter than me.  They are just as human as you or me.  It was the same for them when they were microscopic.  Thankfully, someone else thinks that way as well.  Sen. Sam Brownback faced the question this way: “What is a human embryo?...Is it a person or a piece of property?  Most Americans look at this and say, “Life begins at conception” and if that’s so, then that life, there’s a sacredness to it and we shouldn’t be violating it.”  So, the two groups continue to fight.

    The other group involved in this argument, the politicians, as a very general rule sometimes don’t have an opinion of their own.  There are quite a few notable exceptions, such as Senator Brownback.  However, many of our leaders care little to nothing about the issue, only the vote.  Therefore, in the great American tradition, it is our honor and duty to let our voices join.  We need to make our opinions count.  Some of you are fortunate in that you are old enough to make so your votes as well.  That is so vital in this issue-and in any issue. Thousands of frozen embryos depend on our leaders.  Our leaders depend on us.

    I have to admit, this essay was not as easy as I first anticipated.  When researching this topic, it was very difficult for me at first to find pro-life information.  As I read of all the possible “miracle cures” that cloning and embryonic stem cell research could produce, I seriously wondered about my pro-life views.  I heard about the cures for diabetes and cancer.  I have a friend and many family members with diabetes.  I know a very active little toddler that is about three years old and has been fighting cancer since she was only three months old.  As I read all of this very biased information, I actually wandered. Would this research be worth it if it could cure Taylor, Missy, and Cora?  I actually made the comment to my mom that by the end of this I would be either Senator Brownback’s strongest advocate or Harvard’s newest convert.  Still, I kept coming back to one of the few pro-life quotes that I found in my early research.  I would like to leave you with this incredible thought.  It is from Deacon John Weaver at Sacred Heart Church in Columbia Missouri.  And this, I feel, is the basis for this whole argument.  “Human embryos are not potential human beings. They are human beings with potential.”