"It is dangerous, profoundly wrong, and has no place in our society, or any society."
Many embryonic stem cell therapies would require human cloning to produce stem cells which genetically match the patient. Proponents of the research try to distinguish between "reproductive" and "therapeutic" cloning.
Fr. Tad Pacholczyk, a bioethicist at the National Catholic Bioethics Center, has argued that the distinction is "widely misunderstood and misconstrued." In fact, he told the Massachusetts Senate Committee on Science & Technology in December 2001, there is no difference between the two.
"There’s only cloning, and the distinction comes later when you ask what will be done with the cloned human being after it’s manufactured," he said. "Will you implant it into a uterus, or will you contravene it to gain access to its harvestable cells and tissues?"
President Obama’s Monday remarks continued by noting that the potential of stem cell research remains "unknown" and "should not be overstated." He said some scientists believe the research has the potential to treat diabetes, Parkinson’s, cancer, heart disease and other conditions.
Such research may "regenerate a severed spinal cord and lift someone from a wheelchair," the president claimed.
Saying government’s failure to invest in research misses opportunities, President Obama added "Some of our best scientists leave for other countries that will sponsor their work. And those countries may surge ahead of ours in the advances that transform our lives."
Citing embryonic stem cell research advocate and actor Christopher Reeve, who predicted he could walk within ten years using embryonic stem cell research technology, Obama commented:
"Christopher did not get that chance. But if we pursue this research, maybe one day – maybe not in our lifetime, or even in our children’s lifetime – but maybe one day, others like him might."
Pledging to use every resource with renewed determination to lead the world in scientific discoveries, the president concluded:
"Thank you, God bless you, and may God bless America."
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While federal funding for embryonic stem cell research will likely result in more destruction of human embryos, the 1996 Dickey-Wicker Amendment forbids funding which supports research in which embryos are created, destroyed or discarded. Federally funded researchers must acquire embryonic stem cells using private funding.
On Friday, ESCR funding backer Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) told Bloomberg that she would eventually like to alter the Dickey-Wicker Amendment so that researchers would be able to make lines of embryonic stem cells that reflect the genetic and ethnic diversity of the world’s people.