Stem Cells and Subsidiarity

William Safire points out that the debate over embryonic stem cell research is bypassing the federal government, as states and universities clamor to follow California's lead and get their share of this 21st century "gold rush."  Supporters of the research (like Safire) may hold this out as an example of subsidiarity in action; skeptics (like me) will remind supporters that certain absolutes, such as the sanctity of life, are not be devolved to local communities for redefinition, no matter how enthusiastic our embrace of subsidiarity might be.

Rob