New Political Action Committee Promoting Human Cloning

July 2, 2008, JEFFERSON CITY, MO –  Proponents of embryonic stem cell research and human cloning have formed a new political action committee (PAC) in their efforts to promote unethical life science experiments in Missouri. The new group is calling itself Act to Cure.

Spokespersons for Act to Cure, in a recent public meeting in Jefferson City at the Missouri River Regional Library, claimed that the Catholic Church, particularly then-Archbishop Burke of St. Louis, was the impetus behind the opposition to Amendment 2 adopted by Missouri voters in 2006. The spokespersons also claimed that the Catholic Church is against scientific research, violates the pluralistic society in which we live and should not impose its values on those with opposite views.

The Act to Cure spokespersons acknowledged that no cure or treatment had come from human cloning or embryonic stem cell experiments and that current cures and treatments are coming from adult stem cell research. However the spokespersons argued that unethical experiments involving the destruction of a human embryo were necessary and could possibly one day provide a cure to those suffering from Parkinson’s Disease or diabetes.

Additionally, Act to Cure spokespersons stated that open-minded individuals who did not have “religious filters on” would not have a problem with such unethical experiments, but that some individuals, including then-Archbishop Burke, were biased based upon their religious and political backgrounds and would not listen to the so-called “facts” as presented by Act to Cure.

Many of Act to Cure’s purported facts have been refuted by scientific experts repeatedly, such as somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), which is one method of human cloning, does in fact create a human embryo.

“Act to Cure is promoting the same deceptions that most supporters of human cloning and embryonic stem cell experiments do,” said Deacon Larry Weber, Executive Director of the Missouri Catholic Conference. “Pro-life citizens should be vigilant against those who would like to mislead the public in their attempt to promote such unethical experiments.”