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

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.

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!!!

Danielle | 11/2/2008

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.

Michael | 10/29/2008

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