It's Not About Religion

On 25 June the Sunday Times (Ireland issue) published an article in it's 'Comment' section in which the writer indicated that in his opinion the debate on sem cell research was essentially a religious one.

Yesterday, 2 July, the newspaper printed the following responses from readers:

It's Not About Religion

Stem Cell research is a scientific and human rights issue, not a religious one, as Liam Fay asserts (Comment, last week).

There is a vast difference between embryonic and adult stem cell procedures. The first entails the destruction of human life, the second values it in early development and later in alleviating suffering.

Even some of the scientists advocating embryonic research admit negative results for the foreseeable future, whereas adult stem cell procedures have already proved successful.

The majority, religious and otherwise, abhor the destruction of vulnerable early human life, and for our representatives to give approval to such practices is contrary to the will of those people.

Does anyone think it strange that a minister for enterprise, trade and employment is supporting, morally and financially, such repugnant practices, regardless of where they take place? Maybe it’s a good money spinner.

Peggy Kelleher
Mardyke, Cork

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Embryonic Facts: Fay is wrong to state that “while the self-styled “pro-life movement” sanctions experiments on adult stem cells, it opposes the use of embryos in this manner, holding that each one constitutes a human life. The basis for this belief is religious rather than scientific”.

In the mammalian world, life begins when the male and female chromosomes fuse. To say otherwise is to reject science in favour of prejudice.

Adult stem cell research is 20 to 30 years ahead of embryonic stem cell research.

Adult stem cells are freely available and have cured thousands. To date no human being has been cured using embryonic equivalents.

Steve McGarry
Cork