St. Louis, Mo., Nov 24, 2005 / 22:00 pm
Missouri Roman Catholics who attend Mass Sunday can expect to hear a homily against embryonic stem cell research and a statewide petition drive aimed at allowing Missourians to vote on a constitutional amendment to protect the research.
Earlier this month, the bishops of the four dioceses that make up the Catholic province of St. Louis decided to direct priests to convey the church's position from their pulpits this Sunday.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Friday that the Catholic church is using the first Sunday of Advent to launch a campaign aimed at keeping Catholics from signing the petition, and to teach them the Catholic view of the issue.
The Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures, which includes business interests, universities and patient groups, announced the petition in October. Secretary of State Robin Carnahan approved the petition last week. The coalition has already begun airing advertisements.