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The Salt Lake Tribune Hatch's Stand On Stem Cells Brings Scorn Thursday, July 5, 2001 Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, has dismayed some supporters with his backing of research on fertilized ova. (Associated Press file photo) BY DAN HARRIE THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch's emergence as a leading proponent of federal funding for medical research using fertilized human eggs has raised howls of protest from anti-abortion forces and praise from scientists. Hatch and his allies have "forfeited the right to call themselves pro-life," says Colleen Parro, director of the Dallas-based Republican National Coalition for Life. And while the Utah Republican takes the political volleys, his fellow Utah congressional members have yet to step forward on the issue. Scientists say research on cells taken from eggs fertilized artificially in the laboratory holds great promise for treatments -- and perhaps, eventually, cures -- of diseases ranging from juvenile diabetes and Parkinson's to cancer. Parro says the ends don't justify immoral means. "It's like saying you have a ward full of comatose hospital patients who are not expected to survive, so why not go in and chop them up for their organs. I thought we had left that attitude behind at the Nuremberg [Nazi war crimes] trials," Parro says. Hatch, though, insists his stand is about saving lives, not sacrificing them. In a letter to President Bush urging the administration to continue with a Clinton-era plan to fund stem cell research, Hatch said the initiative "is in the best interests of the American public and is consistent with our shared pro-life, pro-family values." Hatch is on vacation this week and his office said he left instructions he was not to be disturbed short of an emergency. But in an interview aired Sunday on ABC's "This Week," Hatch said he did not take his stand lightly. "It's been a very difficult issue for me because I've studied the science, looked at the law, looked at the ethics, I've prayed about it and I've really worked hard," he said. "This is about extending life, facilitating life. Abortion is about ending life." Hatch made the distinction that the stem cells in question are taken from eggs frozen in the laboratory to be used for in vitro fertilization. Some of those fertilized eggs are surplus and ultimately destined for destruction. "Human life begins in the mother's womb -- not in a petri dish or a refrigerator," Hatch said. In his letter to the Bush administration and in his network television interview, Hatch pointed to research at the Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah as an example of why stem cell experimentation is important. Institute Executive Director Stephen Prescott says he had written to Hatch and spoken to his staff on several occasions, as have other researchers. "This would definitely impact parts of our research," Prescott said. Particularly promising in regard to cancer research is the possibility of developing organs and tissues for transplantation, he said. "It could tremendously ameliorate the side effects of treatment" such as chemotherapy. "Senator Hatch does his homework. It's a courageous stance on his part. It's showing real leadership," Prescott said. "The easy thing for him would have been to take a very dogmatic position" in sync with his conservative political base. Utah Eagle Forum President Gayle Ruzicka says Hatch's push for stem-cell research amounts to a declaration of war on anti-abortion principles. "People feel betrayed. They look to him because of his moral values and the state he comes from," Ruzicka said. "Somebody who's pro-life doesn't take a position like this. "You don't just come up with your own definition of when life begins. God knows when life begins. . . . When egg and sperm unite, that is the beginning of life." Hatch isn't alone in supporting research funding while clinging to his anti-abortion label. Republican Sens. John McCain of Arizona, Strom Thurmond of South Carolina and Gordon Smith of Oregon also are on board. But top House Republicans -- Majority Leader Dick Armey and Whip Tom DeLay, both from Texas -- are staunchly opposed on moral grounds. Utah's congressional delegation is taking a mostly wait-and-see attitude, much like The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, of which all five are members. "The church has not taken a position or issued any statement," LDS spokesman Dale Bills said. "We are reviewing the issue." The only Democrat in the group, Rep. Jim Matheson, is pro abortion-rights and appears likely to support stem cell research, although he stops short of a firm commitment. "He's inclined to support Senator Hatch's position," Matheson spokeswoman Alyson Heyrend said. "There is so much good that could potentially come from it." Sen. Bob Bennett said, "I am still evaluating where I stand." Bennett said in vitro fertilization is responsible for one of his grandchildren, and he knows from that experience that some of the fertilized eggs are not utilized. "I need to find out more about what happens to those and how they are handled and how they can be identified and so forth before I finally come down with a position." Rep. Chris Cannon has an adult daughter who has struggled with cancer and "he is a very strong proponent of late of advancing medical research," spokesman Jeff Hartley said. "But he wants to make sure the steps we take are morally just steps toward scientific breakthroughs. . . . He will weigh the science, the law and the theology before he makes a decision." Rep. Jim Hansen's office did not return a telephone message from The Tribune. _________ Tribune reporter Jim Woolf contributed to this story. 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