October 11, 2005, JEFFERSON CITY, MO – Proponents of embryonic stem cell research are seeking a constitutional amendment to promote human cloning and destruction of human embryos for scientific research. The initiative sponsored by the Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures is called the Missouri Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative.

In its press release announcing the proposal the Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures states that the initiative is necessary to “prevent state-level bans of any type of stem cell research and cures allowed under federal law, including those involving adult stem cells and early, or embryonic, stem cells (ES cells) from the SCNT process and from leftover fertility clinic embryos that would otherwise be discarded.”

“It is astonishing that a coalition of such learned individuals would claim that Missouri in anyway hinders stem cell research that has a reasonable chance of success,” said Deacon Larry Weber, Executive Director of the Missouri Catholic Conference. Deacon Weber also stated, “Missouri can and should be a leader in stem cell research.”

Legislation passed during the 2005 legislative session in Missouri promotes research using adult stem cells that come from a variety of sources including umbilical cord blood, bone marrow and nasal tissue, but other legislation sought to ban cloning of human embryos, from which embryonic stem cells are derived.

To date there have been 65 treatments derived from adult stem cells. Individuals suffering from sickle cell anemia, Parkinson’s disease, heart damage, Krabbe Leukodystrophy, and brain

cancer have been treated successfully with adult stem cells. However, stem cells from human embryos have not produced a single cure.

The initiative states that “No person may clone or attempt to clone a human being,” but redefines the term “cloning” to be the implantation in a woman’s uterus of anything other than a sexually-created human embryo. However the scientific community acknowledges that SCNT is one technique used to create a human clone. Dolly the sheep, Copycat the cat, and Sloopy the dog were all created through SCNT. The initiative limits the definition of an existing cloned human being to an embryo that is implanted in a uterus for the purpose of creating a human being.

Sam Lee of Campaign Life Missouri said, “This initiative would guarantee a constitutional right to clone human beings. It will allow for the wholesale human cloning of human embryos at tax-payers expense.”

In addition the initiative calls for state and local laws to be construed in favor of stem cell research. The proposed amendment would prohibit state and local governments from withholding funds from institutions that engage in embryonic stem cell research.

“This is a very crafty amendment that buries in the fine print how the cloning industry will access public funds to use in destroying human life,” Weber stated. “ As a result of this initiative pro-life Missouri taxpayers will be asked to fund immoral scientific research and be active participants with those scientists who seek to create human beings solely for medical research. People of conscience will need to speak out on this issue or cloning proponents will prevail,” he said.

Cloning proponents, according to Weber, are expected to raise large sums of money to advertise on behalf of the amendment. “They will try to convince Missourians that the proposed amendment is necessary. Our job,” said Weber, “and the job of all people of conscience will be to speak the truth and let voters know what the proposed amendment is really about – destroying human life and advancing unethical research using public funds.”

“The Catholic Church will always be opposed to the intentional destruction of one human being for the benefit of another. Cloning is the most exploitive form of medical research imaginable,” said Weber.