Science Serves Life: Vatican Conference Promotes Adult Stem Cell Research

By Deacon Keith Fournier
11/16/2011
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Adult Stem Cell research is fully supported by the Catholic Church

The Catholic Church supports adult stem cell research and opposes embryonic stem cell research. Human embryonic stem cell research is always deadly. A human embryo is not distinct in kind from a human being, but a human being at an early stage of development. "Extracting" their stem cells is a form of embryonic execution. Efforts to promote the tired old "Catholic Church is against science" argument is perpetuated by those who do not like the Catholic Church's uncompromising defense of the dignity of all human life, at every age and stage.

Adult Stem Cells hold great promise and research in this field is encouraged and supported by the Catholic Church

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VATICAN CITY (Catholic Online) - Last week the Pontifical Council for Culture - in collaboration with NeoStem, Inc. and its educational foundation - cosponsored an important conference entitled "Adult Stem Cells: Science and the Future of Man and Culture." The Pontifical Council is involved in a 5-year, $1 million partnership with NeoStem, Inc. to promote research involving adult stem cells and their potential use in medical treatments.

Adult Stem Cell research is fully supported by the Catholic Church. Vatican Information Services reported last June that " international biopharmaceutical company NeoStem Inc. and the Pontifical Council for Culture have announced a joint initiative between their charitable organizations to expand research and raise awareness of adult stem cell therapies.

"NeoStem's Stem for Life Foundation, formed to create awareness about the promise of adult stem cells to treat disease, and the pontifical council's STOQ Foundation (Science Theology and the Ontological Quest), will work to advance research on adult stem cells, to explore their clinical applicability in the field of regenerative medicine, and the cultural relevance of such research especially with its impact on theological and ethical issues".

The Pontifical Council for Culture through its charitable foundation STOQ International made an economic commitment of one million dollars to this collaboration with NeoStem, an international biopharmaceutical company with operations in the US and China.

The Catholic Church unequivocally opposes human embryonic stem cell research. She must! She will not change her position. Why? The answer is simple, it is always deadly. The human embryo is a living member of the human species who, like every one of us, is always in development. Every human being possesses an equal moral dignity and has a fundamental Right to Life. This is true no matter what age or stage of our development, degree of dependence upon others (we are all dependent upon others) or the opinion of others as to our "worth". We are not products we are persons.

The Vatican expressed it this way in 2008, "the use of human embryos or fetuses as an object of experimentation constitutes a crime against their dignity as human beings who have a right to the same respect owed to a child once born, just as to every person." (Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Instruction Dignitas Personae on Certain Bioethical Questions).

Among the worst examples of using language to deceive and hide the truth is the failure to differentiate between human EMBRYONIC stem cell research and ADULT stem cell research. I have concluded that blurring these two very different areas of medical research may be an intentional act on the part of some who are hell bent on killing human embryonic persons for experimentation.

Oh, I know, some people will gasp when they read such a strong statement. However, given the amazing breakthroughs occurring with adult stem cell research and the lack of coverage such advances are receiving, I am left with no alternative. Let's consider a few examples from the recent past.

Scientists from the Schepens Eye Research Institute in Boston, Massachusetts announced the results of a study in May wherein they used stem cells which they derived from ADULT skin to actually re-grow areas of the retina and improve vision. Chinese researchers announced they have taken stem cells derived from ADULT skin and prompted them to become liver cells, thereby restoring a liver in a laboratory animal.

Last May the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine reported that scientists discovered that ADULTS have stem cells within their lungs which are capable of being used to regenerate damaged lungs. They found "undifferentiated human lung stem cells nested in niches in the distal airways. These cells are self-renewing, clonogenic, and multipotent in vitro."

Have you heard or read about these scientific breakthroughs involving ADULT stem cell research? If not, I suggest it is because the entire "stem cell" discussion is intentionally laden with misinformation and mired in emotional appeals which cloud the scientific facts.

Human embryonic stem cell research has produced no substantial, lasting medically verifiable results. More importantly, it is always deadly for the human embryonic person. To the contrary, adult stem cell research harms no-one and has borne very promising results. Yet, those who support adult Stem ...

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1 - 10 of 10 Comments

Martin
1 year ago
Vance: I'm sure that your intentions are first rate and I empathise with your anger, however I would suggest that you moderate your language and remove the emotive terminology as there is nothing that makes a pro-choicer smile more than getting a pro-lifer to become emotionally charged. Once this happens - know that you have lost both the argument and the battle for minds. Believe me, NO-ONE in the area of stem cell research is doing this to devalue human life. If you start throwing out these wild accusations, you could end up with a law-suit, let alone a lost argument. There are people who GENUINELY believe that because organs have not formed in an embryo, or that no brain function has started, that this "collection of cells" is not an individual human life and is therefore a rich harvest and source of all manner of cures for otherwise uncurable diseases. The case is won when we convince them of their error regarding the humanity of the zygote / embryo and that "it" deserves full protection under human rights. This will NEVER be achieved by accusing them of all manner of evil intent. They really ARE decent people doing what they believe is a good thing. Respect them for what they believe and convince them that they are wrong.
Many, many years ago (late '70s) I met one of the architects of the 1964 Abortion Act in the UK, Professor Dennis who was a leading gynaecologist and obstetrician: He turned out to be a very nice guy and, I personally believe, a little troubled by second thoughts on the matter. I do believe that he acted in good faith and may have later regretted the outcome but was in a position that was virtually impossible for him to back down on. We must make it possible for people like him to change their minds. This will not happen if we demonise them and lash out with personal insults.
Furthermore, while I appreciate that in the political world abortion tends to be a left wing policy and choice is generally supported by the right, it is a major mistake to make this a party political matter as the pro-life issue is very much a cross-bench affair. To fail to recognise this is to risk alienating many potential supporters. Similarly, linking abortion to any presidential candidate (there is little to chose between between any of them when it comes to the crunch) and suggest that there is some sort of conspiracy to degrade human nature not only loses political support, but makes you sound like a lunatic. Don't fall into the pro-choice trap. Believe me, pro-choice doesn't need to make a strong case when pro-life continually whips the rug out from under its own feet by sounding like the "lunatic fringe". Take the war to them and fight on their terms on their ground using their language - it's actually easier that way!
vance
1 year ago
Great article, Your points are well made about the Liberal Establishment media's distortion of the truth and out right lying to the public about stem cell research. The reason of course is that they have an agenda. The Liberal Establishment's purpose is to propagate the Death Culture while denigrating the Catholic Church and Christian Culture. The truth is the Liberal Establishment could care less about human life or medical advancements. So-called Fetal Stem Cell research is done to devalue human life. The individuals who are receiving multi-millions if not billions of dollars from Obama are simply legally stealing Taxpayer money in the name of medical research. What is amazing to me is that many of the people who bought the Liberal Establishment scam have college degrees. They wave their degrees around like a ragged t-shirt to convince you and me that they are intelligent. Isn't that a laugh.
Judy
1 year ago
Indeed, this article was most Interesting! Fascinating! And, one does wonder why one has not heard of it yet? Again JeanCatherine, you articulated very nicely to Martin. And again Martin, I sincerely Thank You for taking the time to illuminate some of us. Prayers and Blessings...
Shahzad Joseph
1 year ago
I don't know what happend with the Catholic Priests. I very much understand that this not the relevent way to protest but I have no other means to send my request to Holy See but I find this way so I am doing so. I have started my organization here in Pakistan we have lot of plans to do but no one is supporting us even my Dominican Vice Provincial Rev. Fr. Pascal Paulus O.P We are Lay Dominic Organization named St. Dominic Organization they always told us about the Catholic rules and the system. I need to understand that system is for us or we are for system as he is not approving our organization thats why we are unable to move even we contacted with Dominican Laity Promoter General Rev. Fr. David Michael Kammler he also never replied us in positive and always bound for the V. Provincial of our Country Rev. Fr. Pascal Paulus O.P. Also we want to serve our Church but no one is taking our responsibility. Although V.Proncial of Pakistan has right to do any kind of support for our Lay organization. We are in need so please do support us and no International Priest of Dominican Frairs is taking us under his kindness, this is our humble request to Dominican Order that they ask our V. Provincial that he will support us in future and will allow us to serve the Catholic Church here in Pakistan. Hope Holy See will take action upon our request and will allow us serve the Catholic Church of Pakistan.

Sincerely,
Shahzad Joseph
+92-345-4663302
P.O. Box 1449, GPO.
Lahore 54000. PAKISTAN.
JeanCatherine
1 year ago
Martin

Amen brother and thanks for your teaching humbly. Two scientists one I can name and Im sure you can name the other I always forget his name---One was the scientist who found the cure for Malaria and the other was Louis Pasteur who prayed the Rosary. I loved the story behind the Malaria guy because he was praying the Rosay one day as he had always and what comes along but the Mosquito. Now that is what scientists would call a miracle cure. Im hoping many of our scientist who are working on Adult Stem Cell pray that Rosary too. God Bless. Chuckle Chuckle in the best sense.
Sister Jacqueline Corcoran
1 year ago
I strongly disagree with Embryonic Stem Cell Research because, the stem cells can come from aborted fetuses, which can be considered inhuman. Now, Adult Stem Cell Research, a grown adult can agree to such a test, as long as they are aware, of what is required for the test and research.
Juneau Alaska
1 year ago
Deacon Keith Fournier,

Thank you for posting what I respond to (either articles or other commentators). Regarding your request for dialogue, I recently sent a reply to Beth in the other discussion about conception. Please understand, Deacon Fournier, that I am unable to respond to all personal questions sent my way. If that is a requirement for being an online member, then those rules are not a good fit for me. Typically, if I do not respond it is because I have nothing further to add. I do appreciate your assessment that my observations are sincere--you are correct.
Martin
1 year ago
A good article, though it was a bit repetitive in places. Thanks for the references. I thought the article was factual by the way, Juneau, and I think you may have fallen victim to Feynman's warning which you chose to quote.
Preamble:
The word science has come to mean different things in different contexts. From the latin, scientia, it simply means knowledge and in this case, knowledge about and study of the natural world / universe we live. Science implies a method, too, of thought followed by rigorous experimentation and conclusions which usually lead to further thoughts and experimentation, culminating in a theory (which may or may not be correct, let alone complete). A third meaning of science could be the "process" through which nature operates. So, to say that science does not serve mankind may be a truth in one sense, but the knowledge therein is put to use in the service of mankind. Most people would say that medicine serves mankind but, as a branch of science it is, of course, the medics and not their study who serve mankind. Also, if Science is the method through which nature operates, then it could be said that science is the set of rules through which God created the universe and in this sense, science did come before life.
I find that many arguments / disagreements can be settled by defining the terms used and also making sure that you state clearly and unambiguously what you mean. This happens a lot when non scientists and non philosophers start talking in sound bites.

I think the point in this article is that those who are trained in biochemical and medical sciences now have the skills to harvest undifferentiated cells from embryos and adults (stem cells): that these cells can be differentiated "in vitro" into specific cells for the repair of dead or diseased tissue but that the skills and knowledge have a long way to go.

The article points out, however, that simply because something is possible it is not necessarily ethical or moral to do so. Harvesting embryonic stem cells is tantamount to the deliberate destruction of the individual human being who is that cell. Use of these cells is as repugnant as killing a child to obtain his / her cells. The fact that harvesting embryonic cells is "clinically clean" and removing the process from public awareness and consciousness does not make it any more ethical.
Adult stem cells cannot form a new individual and so their use is no different to taking, for example, a skin graft from a patient.
Having said this, embryonic stem cells are easier to work with and can do things that adult stem cells cannot do. Improving the versatility of adult stem cells would be a useful route for research.
Adult stem cells have the distinct advantage that they can be removed from the patient who will benefit from them and so there is a perfect match regarding dna that does not exist with embryonic cells. Advances in technology in this area are allowing adult stem cells to be taken and (in the case of a genetic disease) a faulty gene can be removed and / or replaced by a functioning gene. This technology is still in its infancy.

This is not an area of expertise for me, but I do have some passing knowledge about the use of stem cells from literature and I am a scientist and teacher.by profession. Please feel free to correct me if I have made any errors.

This is a new and fascinating branch of science (as an area of human study) but has always been used in science (as a method used in the natural world). As part of the science (methods of working) a new variable must be factored in - ethics. The scientists must realise that the embryonic stem cell is as human as they or we are and that using them experimentally or even with the noble goal of healing the sick and we cannot cannibalise humans in the same way that we do with cars. After all, who in their right mind would buy a new car just to remove a component to repair an older model?
Deacon Keith Fournier
1 year ago
Dear Juneau: Enough already. Yes, you are an intelligent interlocutor whom I hope, because of your hunger for truth, comes to the fullness of truth found only in Jesus Christ and his Body. Thus, I continue to post most of what you write. However, just ask yourself,which came first, science or life?Stop trying so hard to seem "profound" and just enter into real dialogue please.Some of the other commenters are concerned of your intentions. I trust they are sincere. So, please enter into sincere dialogue.
Juneau Alaska
1 year ago
The title here is political and emotional and that's fine, but it is not necessarily factual. It is another fallacy to claim science "serves" anything. It is a tool capable of being used to discern what humans are easily fooled about. I am reminded of one of America's greatest 20th century physicists, Richard Feynman (Nobel Prize) who stated, "the first principle is that you must not fool yourself, and you are the easiest person to fool." I was prompted to make this observation because of what was printed toward the end of this piece, "Among the worst examples of using language to deceive and hide the truth..." I found that comment ironic considering the title.

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