Although withdrawing his co-sponsorship of the Human Cloning Prohibition (S. 658) on February 10, 2006, Senator Jim Talent claims he stills opposes human cloning.

In his Senate speech Senator Talent said he and most Americans want to make certain that the cloning process used to make Dolly the sheep, known as somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), is never used to make “a human Dolly.”

In objecting to the federal cloning ban, Senator Talent said he preferred a less formal regulatory ban because fast-changing scientific developments could soon make federal statutes relating to stem cell research outmoded. In particular Senator Talent referred to a scientific theory known as altered nuclear transfer (ANT) that may, he believes, allow stem cell research without involving human cloning or the destruction of human embryos.

Many Catholic moral theologians believe that ANT produces a human embryo that is crippled and incapable of normal human development.

Senator Talent, who faces re-election this fall, has said that he fears voters may misconstrue his withdrawal of co-sponsorship of the federal cloning ban as politically motivated.

He can prove that it wasn’t by publicly stating his strong and unequivocal opposition to the proposed state constitutional amendment authorizing human cloning, deceptively named the Missouri Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative.

The Missouri Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative specifically authorizes the use of somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) which Senator Talent wants to see banned.

As head of his party’s ticket and a vowed opponent of human cloning, Senator Talent should make opposition to the cloning amendment a major theme of his re-election campaign. He has raised millions for his campaign. If he is a committed pro-lifer, he will use his position and resources to help defeat the cloning amendment.

Contact Senator Talent at:

Phone: (202) 224-6154 Fax: (202) 228-1518

Email: http://talent.senate.gov/contact/default.cfm