Political Contributions made by Embryonic Stem Cell Research Supporters

April 21, 2006, JEFFERSON CITY, MO – The Missouri Catholic Conference (MCC) today called upon all candidates who have received political contributions made by supporters of embryonic stem cell research and human cloning to disassociate themselves from such organizations, and to refund political contributions made by organizations formed to support such unethical practices. The Supporters of Health Research and Treatments (SHRT), a political action committee specifically formed to support candidates who promote embryonic stem-cell research in Missouri, has reported to the Missouri Ethics Commission that it has made campaign contributions to 59 candidates for state office.

Missouri law allows candidates to return a campaign contribution to its donor without having it listed on the donor’s campaign finance report, provided the check from SHRT is returned within ten days of its receipt. Other candidates may have accepted contributions from SHRT but did not understand SHRT’s support for embryonic stem research when they received the contribution. Although candidates in this latter instance would still have to report the contributions from SHRT on their campaign finance report, they may refund the contribution to the SHRT committee.

In announcing this campaign, Deacon Larry Weber, Executive Director of the MCC, stated, “The MCC is committed to informing Missouri voters about the political activities of organizations promoting human cloning and embryonic stem cell research, and will report to Missouri voters about candidates who associate with such organizations. Missouri voters deserve to know which candidates support or oppose these immoral activities.”

In the coming weeks, the MCC will report regarding the results of this campaign, including which of these candidates have received but returned such contributions.

SHRT’s campaign finance reports are available on the Missouri Ethics Commission website and are linked from: http://www.mec.mo.gov/Ethics/CampaignFinance/CFCommitteeInfo1.aspx?MECID=C051043&Year=2006