AP Examines Moral, Religious Questions in National Debate on Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Abortion

Main Category: Abortion
Article Date: 05 Jun 2005 - 0:00 PDT

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The United States' "emotional debate" over human embryonic stem cell research "seems a mere rerun of the unending dispute over abortion," but there are "moral and religious distinctions" between the two issues even though they both involve questions about "protecting the development of human life," the... AP/Yahoo! News reports. Yale University ethicist Gene Outka said some people might consider embryonic stem cell research "less morally difficult" because it involves the destruction of embryos only days after fertilization, whereas abortion involves terminating an embryo or a fetus that has attached to the uterine wall and is more developed, the AP/Yahoo! News reports. Among various religions, "thinking is varied and sometimes surprising" on issues relating to embryos and fetuses, according to the AP/Yahoo! News. For example, the California Council of Churches supports the state's nearly $3 billion embryonic stem cell research initiative, and the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice advocates full access to abortion services on behalf of some Protestants, Unitarians and Jews. However, the Roman Catholic Church -- as well as many Eastern Orthodox and evangelical Protestant leaders -- "vehemently opposes destroying embryos, whether through abortion or for research," according to the AP/Yahoo! News (Ostling, AP/Yahoo! News, 6/3).

"Reprinted with permission from kaisernetwork.org kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/repro The Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

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