Life Alert™

Maryland Stem Cell Research Act of 2005

INTRODUCTION: What is Senate Bill 751?

Senate Bill 751: "Maryland Stem Cell Research Act of 2005" would authorize and provide funding for research that involves human embryonic stem cells.

It is currently being debated in the Maryland Senate, and pro-life senators are participating in a filibuster to defeat it.

An informative letter from eight members of the President's Council on Bioethics, which discusses several of the ethical implications of Senate Bill 751, was addressed to the Maryland Senate on March 31, 2005.

BREAKDOWN: What implications would Senate Bill 751 have on innocent life?

The following would not only be permitted by Senate Bill 751, as amended, but would also be eligible to receive Maryland state funding:

1. Human embryos acquired from infertility treatments could be used for stem-cell research.
· Unlike adult stem cells, embryonic stem cells are obtained through the mechanical manipulation and destruction of innocent human life.
· Contrary to popular belief, no one has ever benefited from treatments making use of embryonic stem cells. On the other hand, the clinical use of adult stem cells is successfully treating a growing number of diseases.

2. Human eggs acquired from infertility treatments could also be used to manufacture new human embryos, which would then be destroyed for their stem cells.
· Scientifically, it is undeniable that human embryos are members of the human species. If one were to deny that embryonic human beings are persons, he would have to rely on an arbitrary, rhetorical distinction and claim that not all human beings are human "persons" -- a dangerous proposition.

3. Human fetuses could be "harvested," by implanting human embryos into women's wombs, so as to obtain more developed cells, tissues and organs.
· The manufacturing of innocent human life with the intention of destroying it would not be limited to the embryonic stage of development. Women could also be hired to act as gestational carriers of human embryos, allowing them to develop into early or late fetal stages -- intending from the beginning to abort the unborn children.
· The legislation does not prohibit the commercial trafficking of human fetuses, and permits "reasonable payment" for "removal, processing, disposal, preservation, quality control, storage, transplantation, or grafting of embryonic or cadaveric fetal tissue." (sec. 20-1101 (J)(2))

4. Human cloning would be allowed, with the only limit being that no cloned human being may be born alive.
· By removing the nuclei of human eggs and injecting them with chromosomes from individuals' cells, researches will be able to produce genetic clones.
· The legislation claims to prohibit human cloning, even though it would allow cloning for certain ends. Supporters of this research make the distinction between "reproductive cloning" (which involves the birth of a cloned fetus) and so-called "therapeutic cloning" (which involves the destruction of an embryo or fetus in the name of research).
· The letter from members of the President's Council on Bioethics asks, "And what if a gestating woman has second thoughts and decides not to abort a developing fetus? Would a court have to enforce a contract for abortion? We hope and trust no court would do that. But if it does not, we will have what the sponsors of the legislation claim they want to prevent: the birth of human clones."

ACTION: What can I do to help?
1. Please contact your senator regarding this bill, by phone or e-mail, encouraging him/her to stand against it. To find your senator and his/her contact information, click here.
2. Please forward this Take Action Alert™ to other Maryland voters.
3. If you would like to send a pre-written letter to your elected officials, click here.
4. If you would like to assist us in our efforts to protect innocent human life by making a secure on-line donation, please click here.

PRAYER: What can I pray for?
1. Pray for pro-life senators who are currently participating in a filibuster to defeat Senate Bill 751.
2. Pray for rights-over-life senators who support the bill and/or are encouraged to oppose the filibuster.
3. Pray that all legislators will come to realize the grave implications and ineffectiveness of embryonic stem cell research.
4. Pray for those suffering from debilitating diseases, and for elected officials to promote research that upholds the dignity of innocent human life and offers promising treatments to alleviate suffering.

Prayer of the Faithful
Almighty God, we give you thanks for those who are courageously fighting to preserve the rights and lives of the innocent. Lord, we ask you to protect and strengthen our pro-life legislators, and enlighten the hearts and minds of all of our elected officials to the truth about the gift of human life. We pray also for all those who are suffering from debilitating diseases. May we live in communion with them, and serve to heal and alleviate their suffering by promoting effective and ethical treatments that uphold the dignity of human person. Lord, please help us to work tirelessly to protect innocent human life by softening hearts and helping others to recognize the sacredness of life when it is most vulnerable. Help us always to be like the Good Samaritan in our daily efforts to do your will. All praise and glory to you. Amen

Anthony R. Souza, MTS
President & CEO