1115.org

Since its first use in the late Seventies, countless couples have depended on the technique of in vitro fertilization in order to become parents. The procedure, in which an embryo is created in a laboratory environment before being placed into the prospective mother’s uterus, has been used in the creation of an estimated 20,000 babies worldwide.

And, if the President were at all consistent with his opposition to expanded stem cell research, he would be calling for the end of in vitro fertilization.

“I’m a strong supporter of adult stem cell research, of course. But I made it very clear to the Congress that the use of federal money, taxpayers’ money, to promote science which destroys life in order to save life is — I’m against that.”

Of course, the President (and the anti-science Luddites in the Religious Right) would never think to publicly attack a program that provides options to couples unable to have children by more traditional means. But in vitro fertilization creates many more embryos than are needed for the actual procedure; these excess embryos are often thrown away. So where’s the outrage, the masses of rabid believers whipping themselves into a frenzy about IVF doctors who destroy life in order to create it?

But change IVF to “stem cells”, and suddenly everything changes. As we have mentioned previously, George Bush is planning to use his veto powers (remarkably, the first-ever of his Presidency) against proposed legislation that would ease limitations on stem cell research. So-called social conservatives were very much pleased with the President’s bold stand:

Opponents of stem cell research rushed out their own statements praising Bush for taking a resolute stand on a matter of principle regardless of the politics of the issue. “We are happy to see the president defending a culture of life at all stages and refusing to allow further taxpayer money to fund the unethical science of embryonic stem cells,” said Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council.

Here’s where the contradiction again rears it’s ugly head. The proposed stem cell legislation still prohibits the creation of embryos for research; instead, it allows more research to be done with excess embryos from fertility clinics. These are the same embryos created through IVP that were going to be destroyed anyway. So if the “culture of life” cheerleaders are really serious about defending life at all stages, why do they make a distinction between an unwanted embryo in a medical waste container versus one being used for stem cell research? If they have any credibility, they wouldn’t make that distinction at all.

So here’s a challenge to Perkins, Bush and their “culture of life” counterparts: if you really care about the poor embryos, issue a call to immediately end IVP procedures, to take away the hope of having children from couples who have no other options. If you don’t have the political stones to do that, kindly shut the hell up when talking about stem cell research.