Bishop Condemns Catholic Governor's Support of Prop. 2 in Michigan

By Kathleen Gilbert
10/29/2008
LifeSiteNews (www.lifesitenews.com)

Catholic Governor Jennifer Granholm urged support of promoting deadly embryonic stem cell research. Bishop condemns statement.

GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan (LifeSiteNews) - Catholic Governor Jennifer Granholm urged Michigan Democrats on Sunday to support Proposal 2, a ballot measure that would allow embryonic stem cell (ESC) researchers to destroy human embryos, and asserted that such a measure is in accord with the Catholic Church's pro-life teaching.

"As a Catholic, I can say to be pro-cure is to be pro-life," she said.The governor issued the remark at a Grand Rapids Obama rally, part of a tour across the western half of the state.

Bishop Earl Boyea of Lansing immediately criticized Granholm's statement for radically misrepresenting her Catholic faith. "Of course, Catholics and all other responsible citizens will continue to seek cures for disease and injury," said the bishop. "But to imply that Proposal 2 is a valid expression of Catholic principles is shocking. Nothing could be further from the truth."

Bishop Boyea emphasized the Church's unequivocal condemnation of the disregard for human life shown by those who consider human embryos expendable, noting that "the Catholic Bishops of Michigan have taken a strong position in opposition to this well-funded assault on human life.

"Saint Paul reminds us that we must preach the Truth in season and out of season. The Truth will never go unspoken. To be in favor of Proposal 2 is not to be pro-life. A well-formed Catholic conscience would never lead a person to support Proposal 2 'as a Catholic.'"

According to a Michigan Live article, supporters of ESC research have taken to the "pro-life" label, claiming that the destruction of embryos is justified for its potential to save other lives that may benefit from the research.

Catholic and pro-life organizations in Michigan have headed the effort to stop the ballot initiative, including the Michigan Catholic Conference, Right to Life Michigan, Democrats for Life of Michigan and the Family Research Council.

Michigan Live reports that polls show Proposal 2 in the lead among voters.

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1 - 8 of 8 Comments

Danielle
4 years ago
I'm catholic and I support Prop 2. It is NOT pro-abortion because the embryos that are able to be used must be less than 14 days old, a woman does NOT know she is pregnant at 14 days.

My question is, if making embryos for in vitro fertilization is not "being god" then why is embryonic stem cell research and abortion "playing god" and immoral. If life starts at conception, why is it okay to make tons of embryos, stick a bunch in the mom which we know many will then die and not implant and then throw the rest in the trash. If abortion should be illegal, then so should in vitro fertilization! You are all such hippocrites!!!

Why not use embryos that would be thrown in the trash to find cures for people? And the whole "adult stem cells are better" is crap because we don't know much about embryonic stem cell research because it is so regulated here we can't learn enough!! I say give it a chance and if it doesn't produce much, then don't use it.

And ex-communicate?? really?? my dad is divorced and he wasn't ex-communicated which is actually forbidden in the church. stop being so religiously fanatical, granholm is doing the best job she can with what she has, do some research and learn about what engler left her with and what george bush has done to NOT help michigan at all!

Vote to save lives, VOTE YES ON PROP 2!!!
Michael
4 years ago
Even if we could get by the fact that this proposal would allow the destruction of life, the TRUTH is there have been NO advances in embryonic stem cell research... They keep touthing them as a silver bullet in fighting disease, yet no progress has been made here, Europe or Asia in their research. YET adult stem cells, skin cells, and umbilical blood cells are proving to yield the pluri-potent nature promised by the embryonic cells. So it's bad research! It's a money wasting scheme, it's nothing but pro-abortion agenda, and it needs to be stopped. Vote NO on Prop 2.
St. Antony
4 years ago
Still,
The good bishop MUST ex-communicate her. If not, it is just hot air!
Pax,
GE
elm
4 years ago
Holly: what does ethics have to do with this? Follow the money. Granholm has nothing else to offer, she is grasping at straws.
Margaret A. Boker
4 years ago
What is wrong with Catholic politicians in speaking the truth? Don't they see they have become willing to sell their souls for the vote? If the truth can't get you the office for which you are campaigning perhaps the Good Lord has a better plan for you. I am sick and tired of people claiming to represent a Catholic point of view which is so adamantly opposed to what we've been taught. Please stop going to politicians for a Catholic view on anything. Get yourself a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, reform your conscience if necessary and stop propagating the lies. AND PRAY
William
4 years ago
I am personally happy that our new Bishop here in Lansing is speaking out against statements like this. Gov. Granholm vetoed a bill a while back banning some forms of abortion as well - citing a reason that almost all Catholics would not see as a stumbling block... I have prayed for her so much that it hurts... I am so happy that Bishop Boyea has quickly spoken out!
Robert
4 years ago
This is definitely not true science. I recently read an article on a UK researcher who moved to France I think. He worked on non-embryonic stem cell research. After facing wall after wall against such research, he finally gave up and moved his staff over to a more friendly location. Quite a few people have already been treated through NESCR, while not a single person has been through that of the embryo. It has been estimated that it is still over a decade away before any will be treated. It is completely illogical the bias that these people have against morally compatible science. It is almost like they do this deliberately to proclaim to the world that they are equal to God and no one is going to stop them. Many scientists(though not all) have a thing against God. Morally acceptable research has already proven to be more fruitful with MUCH less financial support and encouragement. And then you get politicians who are either complicit and/or uneducated in this disparity. But at stake is their popularity to get the vote.
Holly
4 years ago
Im naive here or something. What I question is why these politicians and the powers that be are so fired up about this "negative" research for stem cell research and why they aren't spending your hard earned tax dollars on "positive" medicine?

Anybody out there agree? Why are we so blind to true science?

I personally think that they are using this "negative" science because they need a so called back up because they are afraid of the public and afraid they wont come through for the majority? They need to produce results and they will do anything to get it even if it causes bad results along the way.

Well how ethical is this?

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