Adult Stem Cells and the Gospel of Life

Those of us who have worried about the morality of embryonic stem cell research have long wondered whether adult stem cells could not provide the same or better results. According to a TCS column by Michael Fumento, they can:

Supporters of expanded federal funding for embryonic stem cell (ESC) research were disappointed by President Bush's State of the Union Address, which indicated no softening of restrictions. Instead, he said he'd work to "ensure that human embryos are not created for experimentation." But those who support expanded government ESC funding because they believe it will bring medical breakthroughs have naught to fear. For there's a far more promising approach likelier to produce more benefits and much sooner.

That's because we're being flooded with exciting new developments from the alternatives to ESCs, called adult stem cells. Taken from a person's own body or from umbilical cords or placenta, these cells continue to be used to treat ever more diseases. Further, ASC research in humans and animals keeps biting away at the alleged trump card of ESC-backers, that only ESCs can be transformed into every type of cell in the body. Cardiologist Douglas Losordo's research lab at Caritas St. Elizabeth's Medical Center in Boston has now become at least the fourth to indicate ASCs can do just that.

Healing without murder. Isn't that exactly what the Gospel of Life commands? (Crossposted from my personal blog).