Stem Cell Research is a Good Thing

[trickster]

Hey all. Just checking in for some feedback on my understanding of our church’s teaching on stem cell research.

Stem cells as you know are cells that are not quite developed and have the ability to restore or regenerate parts of our bodies cell structures that need to be restored and this is a good thing. A source of stem cells has been from aborted fetus. However, fetus are not the only parts of the body that stem cells can be found.

My understanding is that we as Catholics are supportive of any kind of technology that can improve the quality (and therefore the dignity) of life. In that sense we would support stem cells. What we find problematic is the trend in science to take stem cells from aborted fetus. However, other sources of stem cells we are ok with.

Is that the understanding of others? And who are some of the moral-ethics theologians or Catholic experts who have written on this subject.

Thank you

Trickster
Bruce Ferguson

 

[oldcatholicguy]

I’m pretty sure the Church has no issue with the usage of adult stem cells.

 

[Linusthe2nd]

Hey all. Just checking in for some feedback on my understanding of our church’s teaching on stem cell research.

Stem cells as you know are cells that are not quite developed and have the ability to restore or regenerate parts of our bodies cell structures that need to be restored and this is a good thing. A source of stem cells has been from aborted fetus. However, fetus are not the only parts of the body that stem cells can be found.

My understanding is that we as Catholics are supportive of any kind of technology that can improve the quality (and therefore the dignity) of life. In that sense we would support stem cells. What we find problematic is the trend in science to take stem cells from aborted fetus. However, other sources of stem cells we are ok with.

Is that the understanding of others? And who are some of the moral-ethics theologians or Catholic experts who have written on this subject.

Thank you

Trickster
Bruce Ferguson

Embyonic stem cell research has been condemned by the Church. a Catholic may not be involved in it or defend it. And stem cells from aborted babies may not be used. Adult stem cell research is fine as long as they do not come from aborted babies.

Linus2nd

 

[ProdglArchitect]

Embyonic stem cell research has been condemned by the Church. a Catholic may not be involved in it or defend it. And stem cells from aborted babies may not be used. Adult stem cell research is fine as long as they do not come from aborted babies.

Linus2nd

 

[phil19034]

Also, I believe it’s fine to use the new techonology of changing cells collected from adults and changing them into stem cells too

 

[trickster]

Embyonic stem cell research has been condemned by the Church. a Catholic may not be involved in it or defend it. And stem cells from aborted babies may not be used. Adult stem cell research is fine as long as they do not come from aborted babies.

Linus2nd

Embryonic - relating to the fetus, - BAD - adult stem cell research - GOOD… ok… thanks Linus2…that’s what I thought the teaching was.

Trickster

Bruce Ferguson

 

[trickster]

Also, I believe it’s fine to use the new techonology of changing cells collected from adults and changing them into stem cells too

Interesting, is it then possible to take stem cells from infants who are alive? Of course, scientifically its possible… .I meant in terms of ethics is it allowable by our church teaching to take stem cells from living infants and children…that sounds like it would be ok…what is your “take” on that?

Trickster
Bruce Ferguson

 

[JerryZ]

I believe the Church condems the use of “Embrionic” stem cells, cells that were collected from an umborn baby, this would encompass any pre-birth individuals either dead or alive.

After the birth who would allow a son or daughter to be subjected to the procedure for extraction unless there was some very compulsive medical reason that required it?

Stem cells are “harvested” either from the bone marrow or from the blood but either are not “easy” procedures.

 

[Ophelia23]

I believe the Church condems the use of “Embrionic” stem cells, cells that were collected from an umborn baby, this would encompass any pre-birth individuals either dead or alive.

After the birth who would allow a son or daughter to be subjected to the procedure for extraction unless there was some very compulsive medical reason that required it?

Stem cells are “harvested” either from the bone marrow or from the blood but either are not “easy” procedures.

I heard quite some time ago that scientists discovered stem cells almost identical in faculty to embryonic stem cells (which do function differently than adult stem cells) from the umbilical cord after the baby’s birth. I thought that was very interesting. If it is so, and no harm is done to mother or baby, then that could be a major breakthrough.

 

[ProdglArchitect]

I heard quite some time ago that scientists discovered stem cells almost identical in faculty to embryonic stem cells (which do function differently than adult stem cells) from the umbilical cord after the baby’s birth. I thought that was very interesting. If it is so, and no harm is done to mother or baby, then that could be a major breakthrough.

Yup, they are able to licitly harvest a significant number of stems cells from the umbilical cord. These are, to my understanding, 100% alright, assuming the parents gave permission for those cells to be harvested.

trickster:

Interesting, is it then possible to take stem cells from infants who are alive? Of course, scientifically its possible… .I meant in terms of ethics is it allowable by our church teaching to take stem cells from living infants and children…that sounds like it would be ok…what is your “take” on that?

I believe it would be ethical if permission is given by the parent and the child is okay with it. That said, I don’t think it’s necessary. I’m pretty sure they’ve only been able to regress adult cells so far, and not those from children… though I don’t really know what the difference would be… not a scientist

 

[Ophelia23]

I for one would be happy to donate the umbilical cord for stem cell harvesting. It is no harm to me or the baby, and if it became a regular practice who knows how many innocent babies could be saved?

 

[OraLabora]

I for one would be happy to donate the umbilical cord for stem cell harvesting. It is no harm to me or the baby, and if it became a regular practice who knows how many innocent babies could be saved?

I rather doubt that babies are being aborted just to provide stem cells for research. I think researchers are rather taking advantage of babies aborted for the usual reasons.

Note that this does not make it licit to do so. But I doubt that developing or using licit sources of stem cells will have any impact on the abortion rate, unfortunately. The source of the problem is illicit sex leading to unwanted babies, and unwanted babies for other reasons (like sex selection in some cultures).

 

[Ophelia23]

I rather doubt that babies are being aborted just to provide stem cells for research. I think researchers are rather taking advantage of babies aborted for the usual reasons.

Note that this does not make it licit to do so. But I doubt that developing or using licit sources of stem cells will have any impact on the abortion rate, unfortunately. The source of the problem is illicit sex leading to unwanted babies, and unwanted babies for other reasons (like sex selection in some cultures).

I was under the impression that certain lab companies purchase eggs and sperm for the purpose of creating an embryo to harvest stem cells from. Although, now that I am really thinking of it, that could have been a sci-fi type of program that I heard that from.

 

[trickster]

I believe the Church condems the use of “Embrionic” stem cells, cells that were collected from an umborn baby, this would encompass any pre-birth individuals either dead or alive.

After the birth who would allow a son or daughter to be subjected to the procedure for extraction unless there was some very compulsive medical reason that required it?

Stem cells are “harvested” either from the bone marrow or from the blood but either are not “easy” procedures.

Jerry, I am in complete agreement with you… the point of my posting was to make sure I was on the right page of Catholic teaching…and I am confident that I am… thank you for your (name removed by moderator)ut.

Trickster

 

[trickster]

I heard quite some time ago that scientists discovered stem cells almost identical in faculty to embryonic stem cells (which do function differently than adult stem cells) from the umbilical cord after the baby’s birth. I thought that was very interesting. If it is so, and no harm is done to mother or baby, then that could be a major breakthrough.

Indeed! That would be a win-win breakthrough and the real winner will be people accessing restorative technology…great! That is so awesome… thank you Ophelia

Trickster

 

[trickster]

Yup, they are able to licitly harvest a significant number of stems cells from the umbilical cord. These are, to my understanding, 100% alright, assuming the parents gave permission for those cells to be harvested.

I believe it would be ethical if permission is given by the parent and the child is okay with it. That said, I don’t think it’s necessary. I’m pretty sure they’ve only been able to regress adult cells so far, and not those from children… though I don’t really know what the difference would be… not a scientist

Thanks ProdglArchitect…yeah just exploring the issue in conceptual terms…I don’t particularly warm up to the idea of taking cells from infants or kids…but yeah…clarifying and working through the implication of the science in conversation with the chruch’s teaching on this is interesting…

Trickster

 

[trickster]

I for one would be happy to donate the umbilical cord for stem cell harvesting. It is no harm to me or the baby, and if it became a regular practice who knows how many innocent babies could be saved?

Agreed!

Trickster

 

[trickster]

I rather doubt that babies are being aborted just to provide stem cells for research. I think researchers are rather taking advantage of babies aborted for the usual reasons.

Note that this does not make it licit to do so. But I doubt that developing or using licit sources of stem cells will have any impact on the abortion rate, unfortunately. The source of the problem is illicit sex leading to unwanted babies, and unwanted babies for other reasons (like sex selection in some cultures).

OraLabora… I agree (and my sense is that all of the posters agree with you). I was not relating abortion to stem cells (as if we would do abortions for the sole purpose of gaining access to stem cells.) I was trying to clarify for my own mind what were the boundaries here…umbelical cords do not have anything to do with the abortion issue…and my gawd, I’m embarrassed… I know the umbelical cord connects the baby to the mother… but what I have NEVER THOUGHT OF BEFORE is is there one umbelical cord per baby or does the mother need to keep her umbelical cord for the next kid? I am ashamed that I am not better informed. I assumed that there was one umbelical cord per kid, so once the kid is born the cord in not longer useful and thrown away… if so, then why not divert that to the harvesting of stem cells.

But yeah, no one is saying in my mind that babies are aborted for their stem cells… that would be sinister…

trickster

bruce ferguson

 

[trickster]

I was under the impression that certain lab companies purchase eggs and sperm for the purpose of creating an embryo to harvest stem cells from. Although, now that I am really thinking of it, that could have been a sci-fi type of program that I heard that from.

You gotta hate that when that happens eh I’m still working on umbellical cords as I forgot all those biology lessons I took in school and in sex education geez…that was back in the 70s…

Trickster
Bruce Ferguson

 

[Linusthe2nd]

Interesting, is it then possible to take stem cells from infants who are alive? Of course, scientifically its possible… .I meant in terms of ethics is it allowable by our church teaching to take stem cells from living infants and children…that sounds like it would be ok…what is your “take” on that?

Trickster
Bruce Ferguson

I think those would be regarded as adult stem cells. Embryonic stem cells are from human embryeos that are being kept alive solely for cell harvesting and then destroyed. Cells taken from aborted babies may not be used. Cells taken from umbilical cords from babies born alive would be perfectly fine.

Linus2nd