Missouri Human Cloning Org and Pro-Life Group Spar Over Web Site

Bioethics   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Mar 20, 2006   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Missouri Human Cloning Org and Pro-Life Group Spar Over Web Site Email this article
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by Maria Vitale
LifeNews.com Staff Writer
March 20, 2006

Jefferson City, MO (LifeNews.com) — A federal judge ordered a group that opposes embryonic stem cell research to take down its website, ruling that the site too closely resembled that of a group supporting a state ballot initiative promoting human cloning.

The Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures filed suit against the Elliot Institute, claiming the post-abortion research organization stole images and designs from the pro-embryonic stem cell research website.

The coalition is promoting a ballot issue that would guarantee that all stem cell research permitted by the federal government can occur in Missouri. It would also promote human cloning for research purposes.

The Elliot Institute supports an alternative ballot measure which would ban most forms of embryonic stem cell research and other types of human engineering.

The two competing websites used some of the same photos and had a similar appearance.

Elliot Institute Director David Reardon said in AP report, “We can just change the images. We will continue striving forward trying to push our initiative.”

Reardon’s Human Engineering coalition wants to ensure that all embryos created during in-vitro fertilization are implanted in a uterus, meaning that there would be no leftover embryos destroyed for questionable scientific research.

The Human Engineering coalition must get approval from the Missouri Attorney General’s office before it can begin collecting the 150,000 signatures to get its initiative on the ballot. Reardon is currently recruiting volunteers from churches and other groups to aid in the effort.

Reardon says the proposed amendment will help get the “loose cannons” in bioengineering under control. Those include researchers who want to create human-animal hybrids, super-babies, and deliberately brain-damaged babies to use as organ donors.

“These proposals sound like science fiction, but a large group of influential scientists and businessmen are diligently working to turn them into our reality,” Reardon said.

Reardon added, “These visionaries have signaled their intent to pursue radical biotech endeavors and earn billions through the creation of genetically enhanced ‘super-babies.’ They have the money, the brainpower, and the motivation to pull it off. Plus, in their rush toward patents and profits, they’re cutting corners. Worst of all, there is not a single law standing in their way.”

Reardon notes that health experts say that current experiments combining human and animal genes can speed the crossover of animal viruses into humans, as occurred with HIV and bird flu.