Monday, October 18, 2004
Science backs church's belief that an embryo is human
EDITOR:
Regarding the Oct. 13 editorial on using human embryos for research, The Catholic Church teaches that every human being -- without regard to race, sex, ethnicity, age, or size -- is entitled to the protection of the laws. The Church has always taught that all human beings -- those who are physically disabled, mentally retarded, or suffering from dementia, and those at every stage of human development, including the embryonic and fetal stages, possess the most fundamental of human rights -- the right to life.
The editorial disputes and distorts this teaching in denying that human embryos are human beings. The trouble with this position is not philosophical or theological, but scientific. The leading textbooks in human embryology and developmental biology unanimously attest that a human embryo is not something distinct in kind from a human being. A living human embryo, given adequate nutrition in a hospitable environment, will not development into a plant, or a fish, or a potato. Nor is a human embryo, even prior to implantation, a random clump of cells. Each embryo possesses the innate ability for self-directed development, and the same genetic constitution is present through the fetal, infant, and adolescent stages, and on into adulthood. Logic dictates that as an adult, the author of the editorial undeniably bears at this very moment the same inherent human rights that s/he bore as an embryo.
Extracting stem cells from embryos kills the embryo. That it's wrong to destroy innocent human life is not a mere matter of & quot;Catholic philosophy, & quot; but rather a principle affirmed by pro-life citizens, whether they happen to be atheists or agnostics, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Protestants or Catholics.
The editorial concludes by insisting that & quot;separation of church and state & quot; means public officials are not free by the light of faith to allow the basic norms of justice to inform their policy positions. To see how implausible this view is, simply shift the focus from the direct destruction of human life for research, to slavery or segregation or genocide. No public official would ever say, & quot;I am personally opposed to genocide (or slavery or segregation) as an article of faith, but I will not legislate my views onto anyone else. & quot;
Opposing human embryonic stem cell research while supporting adult stem cell research is ethically principled and consistent with the goals of science at the service of humanity.
MELINDA KNIGHT
Office of Pro-Life Activities
Catholic Diocese of Youngstown
Career and Technical Center is a Trumbull success story
EDITOR:
I am writing to voice my support for the TCTC renewal levy.
Vocational education is vital to individual success and to the success of the local economy.
I am a 1984 JVS graduate in Horticulture. I also earned my State Degree in Horticulture from the Future Farmers of America. I continued developing my skills in floriculture, a craft which is personally fulfilling to me, and now I own and operate my own floral shop, Custom Floral Designs in Cortland. I employ local people as we are a full-service floral shop. We send floral arrangements all over the world, as well as next door.
Trumbull Career and Technical Center will get my vote to renew their levy so that my children and other children in Trumbull County will have the same opportunity to learn a hands-on skill.
SHEILA FABIAN
Cortland