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Stem cell research corners president Will it lead to cures at the expense of embryos? Bush must decide on federal funding. BY DAVID JACKSON DALLAS MORNING NEWS WASHINGTON The complex and often competing worlds of science, religion and politics are colliding at President Bush's office door. The subject is research on stem cells taken from human embryos. The argument is whether it represents a dramatic breakthrough in the war against disease or an "industry of death." Bush must decide whether to allow federal aid for such research, a step that supporters say would also boost private efforts. Those supporters are bombarding the White House with evidence that embryonic stem cells, which can develop into any of the body's tissues, can lead to cures for diabetes, paralysis, Parkinson's and perhaps other diseases. But critics, notably Catholic Church officials and some abortion opponents, stress that retrieving the cells requires destroying the embryos, which they say amounts to taking human lives. They advocate the use of adult stem cell instead. Not all abortion opponents oppose the use of embryonic stem cells, however. Some prominent anti-abortion Republicans, including Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, have urged Bush to approve federal aid, citing the life-extending potential of the research. Other members of the GOP, including House leaders Dick Armey and Tom DeLay of Texas, have urged the president to reject what they call "life-destroying" methods of research. "Once we begin justifying the killing of human beings at one stage of development, we invite extensions of this reasoning to include other, even more troubling applications," DeLay said Wednesday on the House floor. Supporters at work Supporters of the research fear that Bush will appease his conservative supporters by forbidding federal aid. They are appealing to lawmakers and voters acquainted with debilitating diseases in a strategy that includes testimonials from celebrities such as Michael J. Fox, who has Parkinson's disease, and Mary Tyler Moore, who has diabetes. "This is not an abortion issue; this is a research issue," said Lawrence Soler, chairman of the lobbying group Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research. Current rules allow federal money to be used only for embryonic stem cell research that uses cells already culled from embryos; funds cannot be used to extract new stem cells. Bush can either strike down or expand that rule. Aides said he may also try to fashion a compromise, but they are wary of alienating all sides in this emotional debate. Even the timing is problematic. White House aides have discussed whether to make an announcement before Bush's late July meeting with one of the issue's most prominent opponents: Pope John Paul II. White House officials said Bush understands the sensitivities of the issue and has solicited views from abortion opponents, bio-ethicists and people with diseases that are the subject of the research. "The president is very aware that there is a balance on this issue, where there is so much potential for health and for breakthroughs," press secretary Ari Fleischer said. "On the other hand, the president is very concerned about preserving a culture of life." Science divided Scientists also are divided on the morality of destroying embryos for this purpose. "It's immoral to take the life of one individual, even though you may benefit the life of another," said Dr. David Stevens, executive director of the Christian Medical Association. Stevens and other opponents are promoting research of stem cells taken from adults, saying they hold as much promise as the younger stem cells. But other doctors say adult cells have less value for fighting disease. Richard Hynes, director of the MIT Center for Cancer Research, said the use of embryos should be tightly regulated but available for fertilization treatments. He added, however, that something should be done with embryos created in fertility clinics that would otherwise be destroyed. "They're sitting in freezers all around the world and they're going to be thrown away if they're not used," Dr. Hynes said. GOP rift Members of Bush's own party are split on the issue, too. Former U.S. Sen. Connie Mack of Florida, an abortion opponent and a cancer survivor, said in a statement: "Every American family has faced the terrible ordeal of watching a loved one pass away under the shadow of a disease for which the doctors had no adequate response." "Stem call research raises new hopes for people in pain and distress," he said. "I cannot sit by and let those hopes go unexplored." Thirty-eight House Republicans sent a letter to Bush advocating stem cell research. But that triggered a letter of opposition from Armey, DeLay and Rep. J.C. Watts, R-Okla. They told Bush that "it is not pro-life to rely on an industry of death, even if the intention is to find cures for diseases." Bush also faces political pressure from Democrats, who control the Senate. Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota said Wednesday that if Bush blocks federal aid for embryonic stem cell research, he will bring the issue to the floor. "There are a growing number of Republicans and Democrats who are committed to ensuring that these diseases are dealt with in the most comprehensive way, including research on stem cell," he said. Bush's administration also is divided on the issue. Tommy Thompson, secretary of health and human services, supports the research; top political adviser Karl Rove opposes it. Some proponents of embryonic stem cell research fear the administration's efforts to attract the Catholic vote could lead to a federal ban. But administration officials said politics will not be part of Bush's equation. "We're looking at all the legal, ethical and scientific issues involved," spokesman Scott McClellan said. Gary Bauer, former presidential candidate and president of an organization called American Values, said he and other abortion opponents are dismayed it has taken so long for Bush to redeem a campaign promise. "It looks to the average American like they're running around taking polls and trying to figure out how American Catholics are going to react, rather than taking a stand of principle," Bauer said. "I think they're going to suffer political damage either way they go." Published 7/15/2001 SOURCE: DALLAS MORNING NEWS http://www.inlandempireonline.com/news/stories/071501/stem.shtml * * * ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn