This fall, Californians will vote on Proposition 71, both a constitutional amendment and a bond authorization that would "establish a right to conduct stem cell research involving adult stem cells, cord blood stem cells, pluripotent stem cells and/or progenitor cells (embryonic stem cells)," as well as authorize "$295 million per year in bonds over a 10-year period... Pluripotent stem cells may be derived from somatic cell nuclear transfer (cloning) or from surplus products of in vitro fertilization treatments..."

Proposition 71 will use $3 billion in taxpayer money ($6 billion over 30 years when adding interest) to fund the creation of cloned human embryos, research on stem cells secured by the destruction of human embryos attained from IVF clinics or from the cloning procedure, and will specifically not fund adult stem cell research (which has demonstrated successes) because it receives federal funding.

In April 2004, at their semiannual meeting, the California bishops voted to oppose Proposition 71. In their statement (attached) they outline their public policy objections to the initiative, all of which have a moral component.

The California Catholic Conference, the public policy office for the Catholic bishops of California, has joined other opponents in a coalition named (visit the website, www.NOonProp71.com.). From a sanctity of life viewpoint, the CCC states, "It is unconscionable to fund the creation and destruction of human embryos in the name of speculative scientific research."

And, from a social justice viewpoint, "It is wrong and unjust to launch a costly new state bureaucracy when vital state programs for health, education and police and fire services are being cut."

The Catholic Church supports scientific research on adult stem cells or blood cord cells with the aim of curing chronic illnesses such as diabetes, sickle cell anemia, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease as well as debilitating injuries, such as spinal cord injuries. The church notes that all the documented successes to date have come from adult stem cells and that NO successes have come from embryonic stem cells.

The church maintains that humans have the right to health, to home, to work, to family, and to culture --- but these rights are illusory if the most basic right --- the right to life itself --- is not supported.

Pope John Paul II elaborates on this responsibility in his 1988 apostolic exhortation, The Vocation and the Mission of the Lay Faithful in the Church and in the World:

"The inviolability of the person, which is a reflection of the absolute inviolability of God, finds its primary and fundamental expression in the inviolability of human life. Above all, the common outcry, which is justly made on behalf of human rights --- for example, the right to health, to home, to work, to family, to culture --- is false and illusory if the right to life, the most basic and fundamental right and the condition of all other personal rights, is not defended with maximum determination (38)."

This column was compiled by the California Catholic Conference.