| January 23, 2012 | Volume 87, Number 6 | |
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Embryonic stem cell researchIn 2009, as two new biotechnology programs were debated, the Virginia Catholic Conference and the Family Foundation partnered to secure provisions ensuring that companies could not benefit if they perform research in Virginia on embryonic stem cells or aborted fetuses. In 2010, these same provisions were included in another measure assisting biotech companies. But pro-life efforts in 2011 resulted in weaker provisions, as biotech interests pushed harder than ever for more lucrative state financial incentives, and also pushed harder than ever against restrictions to protect life. They insisted that the restrictions pro-life advocates wanted would “send the wrong message” to researchers interested in coming to Virginia.
That is why the Conference is supporting a ban on embryonic stem cell research during the 2012 session. Even looking at dollars and cents alone, the time has come. Embryonic stem cells have not helped a single human patient despite three decades of research, and stem cells that can be retrieved without ending a human life have already helped hundreds of thousands of patients. Any money invested in companies that perform ineffective embryonic stem cell research is a bad financial investment. Embryonic stem cell research has been a miserable failure. In fact, a November 14, 2011, New York Times article reported, “The company [Geron] conducting the world’s first clinical trial of a therapy using human embryonic stem cells” was “halting that trial and leaving the stem cell business entirely.” In the weeks to come, biotech lobbyists will be hard at work to secure new funding for their interests. The Conference will be working just as hard to ban embryonic stem cell research in Virginia. Hopefully, the General Assembly will embrace the kind of economic development that safeguards our greatest resource — life itself.
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The Conference disagrees. Virginia would be sending exactly the right message if it were to insist that those who set up shop in the state refrain from life-destroying research. The sanctity of life and economic development need not be competing interests. We can and should promote jobs in companies that respect the most fundamental of all rights, the right to life.