Federal Funding For Embryonic Stem Cell Research

Summary

• Favors stem cell research; emphasizes the moral dilemma for researchers and the fact that the decision to engage in research is not taken lightly or casually by researchers or policy-makers.

Summary

• Has come down in favor of stem cell research after considerable struggle with the issue. Believes advances in science will make this a moot point.

Well, keep in mind the way the stem cell legislation, that was vetoed by the president, was structured: what it said was you could only use embryos that were about to be discarded, that had been created as a consequence of attempts at in vitro fertilization. So there were very tightly circumscribed mechanisms that were permitted.

I think that that is a legitimate, moral approach to take. If we're going to discard those embryos and we know that there's potential research that could lead to curing debilitating diseases — Alzheimer's, Lou Gehrig's disease — you know, if that possibility presents itself, then I think that we should, in a careful way, go ahead and pursue that research.

Now, if in fact, adult stem cell lines are working just as well, then, of course, we should try to avoid any kind of moral arguments that may be in place.

But I want to make a broader point, Pastor Rick, on an issue like stem cell research. I mean, it's not like people who are in favor of stem cell research are going around thinking to themselves: 'you know, boy, let's go destroy some embryos.' Right? I mean, that's not the perspective that I think people come to that issue on.

I think what they say is: we would not tolerate a situation in which, you know, we're encouraging human cloning or in some ways diminishing the sacredness of human life and what it means to be human. But that in narrow circumstances, you know, there is nothing inappropriate with us pursuing scientific research that could lead to cures so long as, you know, we're not designing embryos for that purpose.

For those of us in the pro-life community, this has been a great struggle, and a terrible dilemma, because we're also taught other obligations that we have as well. I’ve come down on the side of stem cell research, but I am wildly optimistic that skin cell research, which is coming more and more into focus and practicability, will make this debate an academic one.

August 16, 2008
Lake Forest, CA
Saddleback Civil Forum on the Presidency
Hosted by Rick Warren

August 16, 2008
Lake Forest, CA
Saddleback Civil Forum on the Presidency
Hosted by Rick Warren