Medical Research

Scientists conducting research utilizing embryonic stem cells have seen promising results that may lead to treatments for such diseases as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and juvenile diabetes. Embryonic stem cells are more useful for medical research than are other types of stem cells because of their potential to grow into any cell or organ found in the human body.

But opposition from some powerful religious institutions is threatening the progress of medical science. Anti-choice religious organizations, including the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, are now targeting as “pro-life issues” medical research using embryonic stem cells, the development of assisted reproductive technologies, the use of pre-implantation genetic screening and even the development of new vaccines grown on culture mediums derived from fetal cells.

Reproductive rights and medical research: Their shared opponents

Anti-choice organizations have taken their battle over reproductive rights well beyond opposition to abortion in recent years. For example, they have opposed the provision of emergency contraception (EC) to rape victims out of the belief (scientifically unproven) that EC might cause the destruction of a fertilized egg, or zygote. Many of these organizations also consider biogenetic advances such as embryonic stem cell research, cloning, assisted reproductive technologies, genetic screening and the development of new vaccines to be “pro life issues.” Their opposition is based on their determination to protect what they call “pre-born life,” which includes not only a fetus, but also a blastocyst or zygote.

Religious restrictions on patients’ rights and new medical treatments

Because of the Catholic Bishops’ opposition to medical research using embryonic stem cells, it is likely that treatments derived from this research would be banned at more than 500 Catholic-affiliated hospitals in the United States. The Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services, which govern care at Catholic hospitals, state (in Directive 66) that “Catholic health care institutions should not make use of human tissue obtained by direct abortions even for research or therapeutic purposes.”

For more information on religious opposition to stem cell research, please see our fact sheet on Religious Opposition Threatens Medical Research .