For immediate release: For more information:
Monday, March 9, 2009 Olivia L. Gans & Margaret H. Disney 804-560-8745
VSHL Denounces President Obama’s
Expansion of Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research
The Virginia Society for Human Life, representing pro-lifers across the Commonwealth, decried President Barack Obama’s action today to open up federal funding across the board for Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research. The following statement may be attributed to Olivia Gans, president of the Virginia Society for Human Life: “The tragedy of today’s action by President Obama is that credible research in the area of adult stem cells will be denied appropriate funding once again. Do No Harm, a coalition of scientists and researchers opposed to embryo-killing stem cell research (www.stemcellresearch.org), has posted a list of over 70 different disorders for which there have been one or more peer-reviewed scientific studies showing a measure of positive benefits in human patients. The truth is that efforts to use human embryonic stem cells continue to lead down a path to nowhere. If we want to cure disease we need to fund successful adult stem cell research now! We are deeply distressed that federal tax dollars will be used to the fund destruction of living human embryos leading to reckless experimentation and exploitation. Adult stem cells are benefiting patients with real disease, but yet President Obama wants to pour money into what will become useless science in terms of ethics and the benefit of patients. Today’s move signals yet another attack on unborn human life by this administration. President Obama's action today only proves that he is committed to an agenda that does not recognize the need to protect the most vulnerable among us. VSHL supports successful adult human stem cell research. VSHL implores President Obama to recognize that the killing of innocent embryonic human beings is never an acceptable way to cure a disease.”
Virginia Society for Human Life is the oldest pro-life organization in the nation with chapters throughout the Commonwealth.
