Home / News & Publications / Michigan Catholic News / 2008 / Church: Prop. 2 passage opens doors to life-destroying industry
Church: Prop. 2 passage opens doors to life-destroying industry
by Joe Kohn of The Michigan Catholic
Published November 14, 2008
Detroit — Church leaders in Michigan point to "unsettling consequences" of Michigan's new state constitutional amendment that would nullify any law to restrict or regulate embryonic stem-cell research.
The amendment, which was Proposal 2 on the Nov. 4 ballot, was approved by Michigan voters by a margin of 52 percent to 48 percent. The passage of the measure was a hard blow to the Church, which for the past two years has made opposition to embryo-destructive research — research that requires the taking of human life — the central part to its pro-life message.
"Considering embryonic stem-cell research was legal and ongoing in Michigan before the passage of Proposal 2, it is impossible not to view this measure as anything but the creation of a new industry structured around the unregulated destruction of human life," said Paul Long, vice president for public policy for the Michigan Catholic Conference in a statement. The Conference serves as the Catholic Church's voice in political matters in the state.
The Catholic Church was a principal sponsor of Michigan Citizens Against Unregulated Science and Experimentation – MiCAUSE – the group that organized the opposition to the ballot proposal.
With Michigan's constitution amended, proponents of the measure hope to draw new companies into the state to conduct embryo-destructive research, as well as expand the already-existing embryonic stem-cell research programs at Michigan universities.
From the beginning, both the Michigan Catholic Conference and MiCAUSE acknowledged the fight against Proposal 2 would be a difficult one. Despite the fact that human embryonic stem-cell research has yet to produce any cures or treatments – this after 10 years of being practiced in the United States – proponents of Proposal 2 made emotional appeals by promising cures for those with serious diseases.
"Regrettably, we exist in a society that seeks immediate gratification and pleasure, with a damaging tendency to fall victim to emotional appeals that lack any notion of good public policy," Long said.
Still, he said, the MCC was honored to serve with volunteers, officials and medical professionals through the MiCAUSE coalition. The measure almost was defeated largely due to a dedicated Church leadership, he added.
"Every priest, deacon, religious and layperson who helped spread the Church's teaching that all human life, no matter how small, must be protected and defended, is to be praised for their courageous witness and dedication to the truth," Long said.
Cardinal Adam Maida, chairman of the MCC in addition to being the archbishop of Detroit also weighed in on the passage of Proposal 2:
Though he was "saddened" by the passage, he thanked "Catholics and all citizens of good will who voted to defend the dignity of life, particularly for the most vulnerable among us."
Reacting to the election of Sen. Barack Obama, Cardinal Maida joined with Pope Benedict XVI and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in urging the President-elect to "work in defense and support of the life and dignity of every human person."
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