Embryonic Stem-Cell Issues

There has been a news story circulating this week suggesting a company has found an 'ethical' way to harvest stem cells from human embryos. Supposedly, the company, Advanced Cell, "let its embryos grow to the 8- to 10-cell stage before removing one cell. They then grew stem cells from that single cell." [ninemsn.com].

The problem is, the company is tampering with human embryos, harvesting them from women's bodies, and not proving that they are causing no harm to the embryo (even if they weren't, it still seems very wrong to take parts (cells or a cell) from an embryo simply for the sake of scientific research). The company suggests that the embryo would be able to be implanted in a woman... but that is definitely not a guarantee that the embryo will survive the implantation. As with In-Vitro Fertilization (which is also against Church ethical teaching), many embryos are implanted, with the understanding that the majority of them will die.

It is wrong to harvest human life and exploit it (even if there's a chance for that life to survive) for the sake of scientific research.

A quote at the end of the article, from Professor John M. Harris (of the University of Manchester), shows what kind of agenda the embryonic stem-cell supporters are pushing: "The use of embryonic cells will only become non-controversial when it is accepted that the early embryo is of little or no moral significance," Harris said.

I'm sorry Mr. Harris, but a human embryo equals a human life. You cannot call it something else because only a few cells have developed so far.

I still don't understand why so many scientists and medical researchers believe they can partially or fully ignore morality 'for the sake of science.' What is preventing these companies from investing their resources in adult stem cell research, which has already proven to be useful and advantageous? I have an inkling it has to do with two things: money and politics.

The USCCB has a web page devoted to the Catholic Church's belief concerning stem-cell research (of all varieties) here.

Christians Against Human Cloning Rally

There will be a rally against human cloning on Monday, August 28 at 7:00 p.m. in the Life Christian Church. This rally is for anyone interested in increasing respect for human life — no matter what religious background you have.

Guest speakers Dr. Alan Keyes and Dr. Rick Scarborough will be present, along with Christian musician Kim Noblitt. Christian Life Church is located at 13001 Gravois in St. Louis. Please be there if at all possible! I, unfortunately, cannot make it, as I have a meeting at St. Louis University during the same time as the rally. Here's the website for more info (Note: The other things mentioned on the website are not necessarily within the views of the Catholic Church, as it is not a Catholic site).

Been a While...

It's been a little while since I've posted here, and for good reason! This week I've been helping with orientation at the Cardinal Glennon College Seminary, as well as wrapping up the Priestie Boyz CD. I will send off the CD to Disc Makers (the company that will be printing the actual CDs and cases) tomorrow, and it should be finished and ready for sale within two weeks from now!

A couple things to pray for:

• In Missouri, the upcoming election will decide whether or not Missourians can uphold the dignity of human life by voting NO on the 'Stem Cell Research' bill. The bill's promoters say that this research will bring cures, and that we shouldn't take away sick people's hope, but it is very deceiving - the research is done using human embryos, NOT adult stem cells...
  
  
• All the new seminarians (especially here in St. Louis). The first few weeks can be the toughest - and we hope that all our seminarians can endure! We have a ton of great new seminarians at our Seminary (both on the Kenrick side and the Glennon side!). Please pray for them as they begin their journey of seminarian discernment.

[UPDATED x 2] Pilgrimage to La Crosse, WI with Archbishop Burke

[UPDATES: Pictures are now posted (I gave up on GoLive CS and had to buy the CS2 version—grrr!), and you can also read this account of the pilgrimage from a new St. Louis seminarian!]

The seminarians from the St. Louis Archdiocese and I returned this evening from a pilgrimage to La Crosse, WI led by Archbishop Raymond Burke (St. Louis' current archbishop), a native of the La Crosse diocese. There were many beautiful moments during the pilgrimage, and many beautiful places in La Crosse. I only have a few pictures here, but I will post more later (once I get some time).

The main chapel at La Crosse's diocesan center
(where the Archbishop attended Seminary).

I didn't know squirrels came in black!
The Ninja Squirrel, anyone?

Shrine of Our Lady of Guadelupe
(under construction).

Adoration in the Mary of the Angels Chapel
(Fransiscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration).

All in all, the pilgrimage was extraordinary, and I am very excited to return in about one week to the Seminary to begin my senior year in the College program, along with about 20 new men studying for our Archdiocese (that's the most we've had in many years!).