Bush Attempts to Impose Religious Ideology with Stem Cell Veto, Humanists
Say
For Immediate Release - Contact: Roy Speckhardt (202) 238-9088 or (703)
314-7008 rspeckhardt@americanhumanist.org - www.americanhumanist.org
(Washington, DC, June 20, 2007) Today, for only the third time in his
presidency, George W. Bush has used his presidential veto. And today marks
the second time he's used it to inhibit the advance of medicine. The bill,
the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, would have expanded federal funding
for stem cell research -- a field that most scientists recognize as holding
great promise for breakthrough treatments for devastating diseases, such as
diabetes and Parkinson's disease.
"Bush's action today is a slap in the face of the millions of Americans
whose lives might greatly benefit from such research," said Roy Speckhardt,
executive director of the American Humanist Association. "It is startling
that the President would rather see these unused embryos discarded than to
be used to advance medical research. Since these embryos would be destroyed
whether or not used in stem cell research, why not use them to help find
cures for ailments like heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and Parkinson's
that affect millions of people?"
Bush has made it clear that his position against stem cell research is
greatly influenced by his religious faith - a position that many do not
share. "Bush is clearly seeking to impose a narrow religious ideology, to
the detriment of millions suffering from debilitating or life-threatening
illness, and against the wishes of the vast majority of Americans,"
continued Speckhardt. "With this veto, the President has placed greater
value on small clusters of cells than on fully-formed adults."
"Bush's position isn't just an attempt to impose a conservatively religious
ideology that is contrary to the will of the people and the spirit of
separation of church and state," said Fred Edwords, communications director
of the American Humanist Association. "His doctrine is self-contradictory.
If embryos are people, then he should be trying to outlaw anybody doing stem
cell research, not just stop government funding of it: a passive response is
inappropriate if he really believes people are being killed. Moreover, by
his logic, he should never have approved the stem cell research he did
allow. It's time to call him out on his inconsistency."
As stated in an AHA resolution last year, "The American Humanist Association
supports research employing embryonic stem cells and federal funding for
such research commensurate with its potential to advance scientific
knowledge and lead to the development of novel therapies. Further, we
encourage the development of ethical guidelines for such applications
through the use of reason rather than religious or political doctrine."
AHA board member Steven Goldberg, a key crafter of the related resolution,
added "Humanists value human life, and believe that every person has
inherent worth and is entitled to dignity and compassion. Humanists do not
see a moral equivalence between a cluster of unformed cells and living,
breathing human beings. It is therefore our obligation to support research
that could have a positive impact on the lives of millions around the world.
Thus, Humanists deplore efforts to inhibit this medical research on purely
religious grounds."
"Bush's executive branch diversions of tax payer dollars to create stem
cells without destroying human embryos only reinforces the point that
science doesn't need the guiding hand of a religiously motivated
politician," said Speckhardt. "We should let scientists decide where the
work is most needed."
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The American Humanist Association is the oldest and largest Humanist
organization in the nation. The AHA is dedicated to ensuring a voice for
those with a positive nontheistic outlook, based on reason and experience,
which embraces all of humanity. Please visit the following web page to read
an AHA resolution on stem cell research:
http://www.americanhumanist.org/stemcellresolution.doc.
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Karen Frantz, Policy and Advocacy Assistant
American Humanist Association, 1777 T Street NW, Washington DC, 20009
202.238.9088
kfrantz@americanhumanist.org