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FALL RIVER DIOCESAN NEWSpAPER FORSOUTHEASTMASSACHVSETTS CAPE COD & THEISLANDS .
FALL RIVER, MASS.
VOL.45, NO.31 • Friday,August 17, 2001
Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly • $14 Per Year
Moral questions remain following president's address On August 9, President George W. Bush addressed the nation on the subject of stem-cell research. The President decided to fund research on already existing ebryonic stem cell lines, while refusing funding for the further destruction of human ebryos for research purposes. The response of the Bishop of the Diocese of Fall River, Sean P. O'Malley, OFM Cap., follows: "There is much to praise in President Bush's address to the nation on stem-cell research. He clearly stated that life is a sacred gift from our Creator and that the president has an important obligation to foster respect for life in America and around the world. His policy against funding the destruction of more human embryos to generate new stem cell lines is commendable. He unambiguously condemned human cloning. He debunked the hype associated with unethical practices like fetal tissue research. He strongly encouraged and promised to support research on stem cells derived from adults, umbilical cords and placentas. This research has no ethical complications and has already shown, in contrast to embryonic stem-cell research, highly promising results. Finally, he forcefully condemned the utilitarian moral logic that has prevailed among
Many will have legitimate questions about the morality of the research that President Bush has decided to fund: research on already existing embryonic stem cell lines. Moral principles can shed some light on this complex moral question. Because these embryonic stem cell lines have been produced by an action that was morally evil- the willful destruction of human embryos - any subsequent use of the cells ) derived from that evil act raises the question of cooperation in evil. While some might hold the president's policy to be an example of morally acceptable material cooperation in evil, serious ethical questions remain. The pre-existing cell lines in question have been obtained at the expense of the destruction of early human life. This raises moral problems similar to those inherent in using brain cells that are harvested from electively-aborted fetuses to treat ailments like Parkinson's disease, or to the use of human organs from Nazi medical experiments. Moreover, there is serious worry that even minimal public promotion and funding of embryonic ADIPOGENIC CELLS that form fat tissue develop in the lab at stem-cell research will only lead to the more wideOsiris Therapeutics in Baltimore. The company has had success spread creation and destruction of human embryos in developing the human tissue from adult mesenchymal stem and a greater devaluing of human life. Turn to page J2 - Stem Cell cells. (CNS photo courtesy Osiris Therapeutics) proponents of unbridled embryonic stem-cell research, stating, 'Even the most noble ends do not justify any means.'
Diocese clears the air on reporting bill issue ~
Bishop O'Malley releases her local bishop's office that she described as a '" slap on my hands' for supletter sent to Rep. Patricia porting the bill." Haddad, D-Somerset saying Haddad is a supporter of a proposed she has publicly measure in the Massachusetts Legislamisrepresented what it said. ture called the Jajuga bill, named after By
BISHOP CONNOLLY Summer Tennis Camp participants take a break from swinging their rackets to share a smile. From left standing: Mike Roncka, Adam LaMothe, Clark Andrew, Matt Soares, Matthew Mendonca, Bobby Bielawski and Bishop Connolly High School boys' tennis coach Paul Teves. Kneeling: Isaac Massa, Michelle Canuel, Meagan Renaud, Joanna Kuzlik and Amanda Medeiros. The school was held on th~ high school grounds in Fall River. (AnchotiGordon photo)
Bishop renews warning about casino gambling - page three
JAMES
N. DUNBAR
FALL RIVER - Public statements ascribed to State Rep. Patricia Haddad of Somerset following a personal letter sent to her by the Diocesan Office of Communications have prompted Bishop Sean P. O'Malley, OFM Cap., to release the letter publicly. The August 1 letter, from John E. Kearns Jr., Assistant Director of the Diocesan Office of Communications, and which met with the bishop's approval, is reprinted in its entirety today in The Anchor. "We were drawn into this debate because of Representative Haddad's irresponsible and intemperate remarks," Bishop O'Malley said. In the August 8 edition of The New York Times, Haddad reportedly said that she recently had received a letter from
its sponsor, Sen. James Jajuga, DMethuen, which would require the heads of churches and ministerial organizations to report any criminal activity by its employees or clergy. The measure reportedly comes in the wake of allegations of child molestation made against a priest in the Archdiocese of Boston. Kearn's letter offering Haddad an overview of the policies in effect in the Fall River diocese came after a July 31 story in' The Fall River Herald News, quoted Haddad as saying in support of the bill: "The Cardinals of this world could no longer switch their people around from one parish to another. They would have to own up to the fact that they have unpleasant people in their employ." Bishop O'Malley made it clear that Turn to page J5 - Bill