He argued that even if embryonic stem cell research has any advantages, “even those advantages can be pursued as well or better” using cell reprogramming techniques that create induced pluripotent stem cells.
“However, just as the science is demonstrating that human embryo destruction is irrelevant to medical progress, that controversial avenue may receive a new infusion of money and attention for ideological reasons,” he commented, praising President Bush for his ban on federal funding for research that is destructive of human embryos.
“His policy enabled the morally sound alternatives to be pursued and funded, and these are now showing they can actually do many things better.”
Doerflinger said that in one sense pro-lifers have never done enough for children after they are born.
“That is one meaning of Jesus’ saying that ‘the poor you will always have with you.’”
“But the pro-life movement has established literally thousands of pregnancy-support centers and contributed perhaps millions of hours to this kind of support, usually unpaid hours. The Catholic Church’s hospitals and charitable institutions are unparalleled in their support for women and children in need. And we have supported many public policies to improve this support, including most recently the Pregnant Women Support Act being reintroduced in this Congress.”
Responding to charges that the pro-life movement is hypocritical because it is not doing enough after birth, he replied:
“Which is the deeper hypocrisy? What about a society that constructs a complete system of care and support for the child after birth then supports killing the child before he or she can benefit from any of it?”
Noting that pro-life case can be made through appeals to both faith and reason, he told National Review Online:
“For Catholics we can argue on faith grounds, and that adds an extra dimension because of God’s special love for those who are weakest and most defenseless. But to lawmakers and the general public we are very happy to make arguments that can be understood by any person of good will. To state a paradox, our faith tells us that respect for all human life from conception to natural death is not only a matter of faith.”
Calling the Life Prizes award being bestowed on him an “enormous surprise,” he said most of his work has been “behind the scenes” in writing, research and analysis, speaking with Congressional members and staff, and helping the bishops articulate their position.
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“It is a great honor, especially when some of the other honorees have suffered enormous hardships or endangered their livelihoods by standing up for life. When all is said and done, I am paid to do what I love doing.”
Doerflinger suggested to National Review Online that the award grows out of a need to energize the next generation of pro-life advocates by providing role models for them.
“It’s humbling to think that some consider me that kind of role model. But in general I think an award program like this means the movement is maturing and settling in for the long haul, planting the seeds of the future.”