Information on Stem Cell Reserch

    Every human body contains stem cells that develop into 200 varieties of cells which produce the organs of the human body.  These cells are found in the fertilized human embryo, umbilical cord, and placenta.  They are also found in the adult blood, skin, muscle, and brain.  Scientists state that they can cultivate these cells in the laboratory and use these cells to grow a new heart or brain and repair damaged tissue. Some scientists want to do research on stem cells from human embryos, however, in order to obtain them, the human embryo must be killed.  Human embryos can be secured from abortions, donated from embryos never implanted from in vitro fertilizations, and possibly even cloned.  The issue of cloning, which would create a human being without any connection to human sexuality, is addressed by the Church (Donum Vitae – 1987 Vatican document) as wrong because it is against the moral law since it goes against human procreation and marital union

    The Church clearly teaches that the killing of human embryos is wrong.  Since a human embryo is the earliest stage of human life, this would be considered intentional destruction of life for the sacrifice of scientific study and experimentation.

More information can be found at:

www.whatthechurchteaches.com