I'll be danged Catholic Church Funds adult stem cell research

[DanCa]

Message: 5
Date: Fri, 07 Oct 2005 02:52:30 -0000

Subject: Church Funds Adult Stem Cell Research-Korea Times

Church Funds Adult Stem Cell Research

10-05-2005 17:28


By Kim Tae-gyu
Korea Times Staff Reporter

South Korea?s Catholic church plans to donate 10 billion won ($9.61
million) for adult stem cell research to counter the burgeoning
studies on embryonic stem cells. Toward that end, the Seoul Diocese yesterday set up a committee to allocate the funds and appointed Bishop Yeom Soo-jung to head it.

``We decided to establish this committee to boost adult stem cell
research that will treat hard-to-cure diseases practically. We hope
our efforts will mark a turning point to wash away a recent tendency
of making light of life, as shown by embryonic stem cell
experiments,?? Yeom said.

He added the 10 billion won is the largest amount ever contributed
by any Catholic church in any country for adult stem cell research.
The Catholic church has been opposed to stem cell experiments with
embryos, pioneered here by Seoul National University professor Hwang
Woo-suk, because of the church?s belief that embryos are human
lives. Hwang stole the global stage early last year by announcing his team created a cloned human embryo for the first time in history and
extracted a stem cell line from it. This year, the 52-year-old surprised the world once again by harvesting patient-specific stem cells, which are genetically tailored to patients with critical diseases or disabilities. Catholics have criticized Hwang and his attention-grabbing study since his work uses human eggs and destroys embryos to harvest stem cell batches.

But adult stem cells can be grown harmlessly from adults or the
umbilical cord, which is usually discarded after the birth of a
baby. Stem cells, the master cells from which other cell types are made, can be categorized into two kinds according to their source _ adult and embryonic. Embryonic stem cells are derived from embryos and have the potential to become any cell or tissue of a human body such as bone, skin or blood. By contrast, adult stem cells are harvested from the fetus, child, adult and umbilical cord blood and typically create specific cell type similar to their tissue of origin. For example, muscle stem cells produce muscle cells. But recently, scientists have found adult stem cells that have the ability to change into other kinds of cells.

[Gronk Groks]

1. Makes a weird type of sense.

Stem Cell research is going to happen regardless of what the Catholic Church says. Might as well try and steer it into adult stem cell instead of trying to stop the unstoppable landslide

[DanCa]

2. I was thinking that too.

Still when you need the research as bad as I do any port in the storm. Know I wish that they'd change there mind about gay people and choice.

[Gronk Groks]

4. Catholic Church changing their mind ????

That is about as likely as shrub changing his. Check history it takes CENTURIES for the Church to move a half-step in any direction.

In another few decades the church will have virtually no priests. THEN they will change their mind about celibacy or female clergy, but not a moment sooner

[DanCa]

5. okay my dopamines regulated now i feel better.

[shockingelk]

3. Catholic doctrine

Adult stem cell research = good
fetal stem cell research = bad

Not surprising.

[Warren DeMontague]

6. Damage control.

Anyway, for an organization obstensibly founded by a guy who said that stuff about camels, the rich, and the eye of a needle, they're got more money than ('scuse the expression) God. They can afford it.

[DemBones DemBones]

7. Why are you surprised? The Catholic Church opposes embryonic

stem cell research because embryos are killed. No one is killed to harvest adult stem cells. Or to harvest stem cells from umbilical cords, which become a discarded spare part once a baby is born.

It's ironic that so many on the left want "animal-free" testing on products they use but support killing human embryos to get their stem cells.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

8. The Catholic church just doesn't approve of embryonic research...

AS long as you're not messing with that, they think it's a great idea. There is actually literature about it available in the vestibule in the front of most churches.
Duckie