Contact: Michael Sleasman, The Center for Bioethics & Human Dignity, 847-507-2822, media@cbhd.org

CHICAGO, June 7 /Christian Newswire/ -- The Center for Bioethics & Human Dignity (CBHD) calls upon the President to exercise both his moral resolve and his presidential prerogatives and veto immediately the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007. This bill unhinges any restrictions on funding embryonic stem cell research derived from "discarded" embryos that result from excessive fertility procedures.

The debate over this bill misleadingly presented the source of embryonic stem cells as medical waste and thus of no consequential value. The growing number of Snowflake children seriously questions the nature of this assumption. CBHD Director, C. Ben Mitchell, PhD, comments: "Human embryos belong in nurturing wombs, not in dissecting dishes in a research lab. Killing human embryos for their stem cells is a form of biotech cannibalism that we must not countenance as a civilized society."

While the Center applauds the House for rebuffing recent efforts to legalize human cloning research, we strongly urge members of Congress to examine the overwhelming evidence of successful trials of non-embryonic derived stem cell treatments. Mitchell comments, "We cannot permit good intentions to blur the moral boundaries of science. Compassion must be informed by ethics." Thus, the Center calls upon Congress to approve legislation upholding its own interest to "prioritize research with the greatest potential for near-term clinical benefit" by supporting proven non-embryonic stem cell research initiatives that offer genuine medical assistance to those suffering from these difficult conditions.

About The Center for Bioethics & Human Dignity
The Center for Bioethics & Human Dignity is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to exploring the nexus of biomedicine, biotechnology, and our common humanity. The Center exists to equip thought leaders to engage the issues of bioethics using the tools of rigorous research, conceptual analysis, charitable critique, leading-edge publication, and effective teaching.