Rare Jewel Magazine

"Lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel."
- Proverbs 20:15

Stem-Cell Research: Under the Microscope
Rare Jewel Insight: August 20, 2004

Table of Contents:

COMMENTARY
"Stem-Cell Research: Under the Microscope"
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Special Anniversary Announcement

1. COMMENTARY

Stem-Cell Research: Under the Microscope

(by Tim Ewing, Publisher)

Ron Reagan (the son) made headlines with his stem-cell speech at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) a few weeks ago in Boston. As usual with highly charged political issues like this, misinformation abounds. Rare Jewel Insight will shine the light of truth on this, but first let's lay some groundwork.

What are stem cells?

Stem cells are found in all animals, including human beings. All 210 varieties of human tissue originate from stem cells. There are two types of stem cells used in research today:

"Adult" stem cells are derived from existing tissue in the adult body; there are no adverse effects when harvested.

"Embryonic" stem-cells are taken from live human embryos, killing the embryo in the process.

Researchers indicate that these cells can provide -- and in the case of Adult stem-cells are providing -- new treatments for everything from heart disease to cancer to spinal cord injuries.

What are the ethical concerns raised by stem-cell research?

Adult stem cells are obtained through a simple procedure that does no harm to the donor, allowing living human beings the opportunity to make a potentially life-giving gift. Embryonic stem cells can only be extracted at the cost of killing that embryo.

Besides the moral dilemma of killing a living embryo, there is the moral challenge to face a situation where human lives might be created (the embryo) with the sole intent later to destroy such human life, in order to harvest the stem cells.

Our nation was founded upon the premise that God gives mankind the right to life. Our Founders affirmed this in the Declaration of Independence and elsewhere. How can our government find a moral justification to fund programs to create life, with the clear intention to then destroy that life -- no matter how "compassionate" the act might be called?

Back to the DNC.

Three falsehoods were promoted at the Democratic Convention, not just in Ron Reagan's speeches, but also by Hillary Clinton and John Kerry.

Falsehood #1: President Bush outlawed stem-cell research, and should lift his ban.

Truth: There is no ban on stem-cell research of any kind.

There is only a ban on the federal funding of the destruction of live human embryos in order to harvest stem-cell lines for research. There is no restriction on federally or privately funded Adult stem-cell research, nor is there a restriction on privately funded Embryonic stem-cell research. In August 2001 President Bush moved to allow federal funding on 15 stem-cell lines that were already harvested from destroyed embryos. President Bush's intention is to prevent federal funds -- public money -- being used to destroy more embryos.

Falsehood #2: Embryonic stem-cell research promises cures of diseases and help for major injuries; according to Ron Reagan, in as few as 10 years.

Truth: Despite millions of dollars of investment, Embryonic stem-cell research has not produced any successful results.

Adult stem-cell research has been successful in more than 40 disease treatments. None of the claims by promoters of Embryonic stem-cell harvesting are even close to the research and cures already being accomplished using Adult stem-cells, in areas like spinal-cord injury, stroke, heart disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, cancer, and more.

Joni Eareckson Tada, a quadriplegic for 37 years since her diving accident at age 17, stated recently on Larry King Live, "Research dollars are few, they are scarce, they are precious. And because they are scarce, I want to see that money channeled into therapies that have the most promise, that are the most effective. Right now, no stem cell derived from a human embryo is even in clinical trial in a human; and even the trials in animals are fraught with problems. There's tissue malformation, there's tissue rejection... Incredible therapies that are happening, use Adult stem-cell research. It is absolutely amazing what is happening."

Falsehood #3: We have nothing to lose by putting more federal funds (taxpayer dollars) behind Embryonic stem-cell research; we have everything to gain.

Truth: Taxpayers can not be asked to pay for every medical research effort -- if our limited resources are to be spent at all, it should be on research that has proven results? such as Adult stem cells.

Consider the traditional activity of the private sector. If the DNC-hype about Embryonic stem-cell research were true -- that new cures are just around the corner -- then there we'd be seeing tremendous ongoing investment from venture capitalists and pharmaceutical companies. But biotech investors are not in evidence? hence the push for federal funding.

Ron Reagan, Hillary Clinton, John Kerry and others at the DNC said nothing about Adult stem-cell research and its recent successes and treatments. Why the purposeful deception? Why the blame at President Bush's doorstep when all he has done is prevent taxpayer dollars from funding the destruction of living human embryos?

Amid other factors -- ego-driven scientists; a portion of the medical industry looking for easy cash via federal subsidies -- are three major reasons the Democratic leadership promotes misinformation about stem cells:

The Democrat Presidential-election team wants to put the hurt on President Bush by creating an issue that tugs on the compassionate heart-strings of America -- to make the President look unreasonable and uncaring.
The multi-billion dollar abortion industry and its allies desire to eliminate any public policy that affirms a culture of life in America.
Proponents of Embryonic stem-cell research, at the DNC and elsewhere, fall into the worldview that constantly pulls man towards dependence on self -- and government -- and away from dependence on God. Our Founder Fathers knew this and built a government meant to be run by moral leaders who would be responsible to administer our liberty.

Playing "God" comes natural to fallen man. Think of the lure of creating and destroying life in research labs. Just as the builders of the Tower of Babel thought they could reach Heaven, the dreams of Embryonic stem-cell researchers can involve pursuit of a pseudo Divine status? which the Bible clearly condemns.

Before we step into the voting booths this November, let us first consider the genuine moral character of our next president and other candidates for office to see if they measure up to the standard envisioned by Noah Webster in 1832:

"When you become entitled to exercise the right of voting for public officers, let it be impressed on your mind that God commands you to choose for rulers just men who will rule in the fear of God. The preservation of a republican government depends on the faithful discharge of this duty;

"If the citizens neglect their duty and place unprincipled men in office, the government will soon be corrupted; laws will be made not for the public good so much as for selfish or local purposes;

"Corrupt or incompetent men will be appointed to execute the laws; the public revenues will be squandered on unworthy men; and the rights of the citizens will be violated or disregarded."