The idea for the symposium originated with the bishops, who felt that the emergence of stem cell research, particularly when it involves the destruction of human embryos, requires that the scientific issues in the debate must be accompanied by an equally vigorous examination of the ethical and moral aspects of the practice. Given the major involvement in such research by the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the bishops believed it was important for such a conference to take place in our state.

Experts in a variety of fields with differing perspectives gave presentations on the ethical questions raised by research using stem cells derived from human embryos. The symposium concluded with a panel of experts engaging each other and the audience in dialogue on future directions for the debate. Presenters were selected based on their expertise on the issues covered. Their participation in the conference did not imply endorsement of their views.

Among the major themes to emerge from the conference was the great promise of research on adult stem cells, that is, a cell from a mature person or animal. These cells are derived without destroying embryos and such research avoids a good deal of the moral controversy surrounding the use of embryonic stem cells. (The definition of an adult stem cell is: a cell taken from mature tissue that can renew itself but has a limited ability to transform into specialized cell types. An embryonic stem cell is defined as a cell from an embryo that has the potential to become a wide variety of specialized cell types.)

Theological and Ethical Insights
Over the three days, the symposium featured presenters with a variety of theological perspectives and insights. These addressed not only the ethical issues themselves, but also the appropriate frameworks for moral analysis. Though individual presenters differed on many subjects, their interventions made it clear that stem cell research confronts society with an array of moral and ethical challenges that extend well beyond the morality of using cells derived from embryos.

“The question of whether it is moral to destroy living embryos for research is a critical one for our times,” Wisconsin Catholic Conference director John Huebscher said. “But the symposium highlighted the fact that there are other moral and ethical questions that also demand attention, including questions such as how we will decide what illnesses to study, whether the benefits of medical treatments discovered will be accessible to all people, and the extent to which a patient who benefits from treatment is complicit in any immoral acts performed to discover that treatment.”

Many participants said the conference was important in bringing together groups of people who don’t often converse with each other. There was a sense from all groups that such conversations should occur more frequently.

The Church’s Position
The Church’s position on stem cell research can be summarized in six main points:

• Research involving the creation of use of human embryos for research purposes is wrong (creation of embryos through Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT) or therapeutic cloning);
• Research involving the destruction of human embryos is wrong (whether the embryos were created through SCNT, were frozen embryos obtained from in vitro fertilization clinics, or were obtained in any other way);
• Research involving the use of stem cells or stem cell lines that requires the destruction of human embryos is wrong;
• Research involving the use of fetal tissue obtained through non-spontaneous abortions is morally wrong;
• Research involving the use of stem cells or stem cell lines derived from fetal tissue obtained through non-spontaneous abortions is morally wrong;
• Research involving adult stem cells and stem cells obtained from umbilical cord blood or placentas is morally permissible.

For a stem cell glossary, see the website of the Wisconsin Catholic Conference: www.wisconsincatholic.com ).

Information in this article was provided by the Wisconsin Catholic Conference. For additional information, contact the WCC, or the Archdiocesan Office for Human Concerns at 414-769-3426 or humanconcerns@archmil.org.

Our Sunday Visitor has a helpful brochure entitled, “What the Church Teaches on Stem Cell Research: A Catholic Perspective on the Recent Controversy.” To obtain copies for your parish, contact: Our Sunday Visitor, 200 Noll Plaza, Huntington, IN 46750 or call 800-348-2440 or visit their website: www.osv.com .

Wisconsin Legislature and Embryonic Stem Cell Research
Wisconsin legislators are grappling with a variety of proposals related to embryonic stem cell research:

• Budget amendment to restrict research. A proposal offered in the assembly would have restricted research on human embryos in the state to only those stem cell lines in existence as of January 1, 2002. The proposed restrictions were deleted from the final budget package.
• Human Embryo Protection Act. Proposed by legislators in August, the “Human Embryo Protection Act” would prohibit the creation, destruction, sale or transfer of human embryos for research purposes. The bill would also explore adoption as an option for “excess” embryos. The details of the bill are still in drafting, however, the final proposal will likely restrict future research on embryonic stem cells to only those stem cell lines developed as of the president’s August address regarding federal funding for this research.
• Cloning. Legislation regarding human cloning is expected later this session. It is likely the proposal will include a ban on reproductive and therapeutic cloning.
• Support for UW Research. In contrast to efforts to limit stem cell research and cloning are recent efforts to promote Wisconsin as a center for advancements in biotechnology.

One such example is the recently introduced Senate Joint Resolution 46 that praises the UW-Madison and the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation for playing a leading role in the advancement of embryonic stem cell research. SJR 46 is currently awaiting a hearing in the Senate Committee on Universities, Housing and Government Operations.

A joint resolution differs from a bill in that a resolution does not carry the force of law. If approved by both houses of the legislature, a joint resolution expresses the sentiment of the legislature and generally directs some communication on behalf of the legislature to the individual or institution that is the subject of the resolution. For more information, contact the Wisconsin Catholic Conference, 131 W. Wilson St., Suite 1105, Madison, WI 53703 or visit their website: www.wisconsincatholic.com ).