March 13, 2009
Stem Cell Dilemmas
by
Religion & Ethics Newsweekly
KIM LAWTON, guest anchor: New religious and ethical debates this week after President Barack Obama cleared the way for federal tax dollars to fund expanded embryonic stem cell research. Obama said funding such research is morally necessary because of the potential to find medical cures.
President BARACK OBAMA: As a person of faith, I believe we are called to care for each and work to ease human suffering. I believe we have been given the capacity and will to pursue this research and the humanity and conscience to do so responsibly.
LAWTON: The Catholic Church and several other religious groups oppose that research because it destroys the embryo, which they consider tantamount to killing an innocent human life.
Joining me with more is David Masci, senior research fellow at the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. David, how controversial is this within the religious community?
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