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Bishop Expresses Extreme Disappointment on Vote to Fund Embryonic Stem Cell Research
On Wednesday, the North Carolina House Committee on Science and Technology voted to send HB 1837 to the House Appropriations Committee. Bishop Burbidge stated, “This bill violates a fundamental Church teaching on the sanctity of life.”
The Bishop further explained that “While we remain supportive of other methods of stem cell research and are encouraged by the advances that have occurred just in the past 12 months that have not required the destruction of a human embryo, a human life cannot be terminated in an attempt to find cures for diseases.”
This bill allocates $10 million of public funds for embryonic stem cell research. Bishop Burbidge said he is saddened and extremely disappointed with the vote and pledged to continue efforts to work for the ultimate defeat of this bill. “All life, including the human embryo, is sacred and must be protected at all cost,” Bishop Burbidge said.
“Bishop Peter J. Jugis of Charlotte and I will now take the next step in asking Catholics throughout the State to contact their legislators to express their opposition to this bill. We will also initiate contact with other likeminded citizens who support life to join us in defeating this proposed legislation.”