8-June-2004 -- Catholic World News Brief
Washington, DC, Jun. 08 (CWNews.com) - A group of
58 Senators sent a letter to US President George W. Bush last Friday asking that
he relax current rules limiting federal funding of destructive embryonic
stem-cell research.
The group of 42 Democrats, 15 Republicans, and one independent said that they
want to modify the rules so that research could continue into treatments and
cures for a variety of diseases. One Monday, several said the death of former
President Ronald Reagan over the weekend after a long bout with Alzheimer's
disease underscored the need for the research.
Among the Republicans signing the letter was Utah Senator Orrin Hatch, who in
the past had been considered to be among pro-life caucus in the Senate.
In August 2001, President Bush signed an executive order limiting federal
funding for stem cell research to 78 embryonic stem-cell lines already in
existence. Research using private funds was not affected and continues to this
day.
White House spokesman Ken Lisaius said Bush stood by his stem cell policy.
"The president remains committed to exploring the promise of stem cell
research but at the same time continues to believe strongly that we should not
cross a fundamental moral line by funding or encouraging the destruction of
human embryos," Lisaius said. "The president does not believe that
life should be created for the sole purpose of destroying it. He does believe we
can explore the promise and potential of stem cell research using the existing
lines of stem cells."