ON EMBRYONIC STEM CELL RESEARCH

OBAMA'S CAMPAIGN WEBSITE NOTES...
"Obama is a co-sponsor of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007, which would allow research of human embryonic stem cells derived from embryos donated (with consent) from in vitro fertilization clinics. These embryos must be deemed in excess and created based solely for the purpose of fertility treatment." (link)
OBAMA STATED...
I.
"Well the thing is, actually, we have enough support in the Senate and the House to pass this bill.  George Bush has vetoed it.  Here's what we'll do - we just need one more vote, and that's the vote of the president, and since I'll be president we will sign stem cell research."
(A quote taken from an MSNBC video of Hardball "College Tour" 4/2/2008 - posted on the-scientist.com - video link)

II.
Obama: I'm proud to be a cosponsor of the stem cell bill before us today ["Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005" (H.R. 810)]. This bill embodies the innovative thinking that we as a society demand and medical advancement requires... Americans are looking for that kind of leadership today.
(A quote taken from Obama's US Senate website and posted on vote-usa.org - link)

III.
Barack Obama has been a long-term supporter of increased stem cell research.  He introduced legislation while a member of the Illinois Senate that would allow embryonic stem cell research in Illinois.  Obama has cosponsored legislation to allow greater federal government funding on a wider array of stem cell lines.  Obama believes we need high ethical standards that allow for research on stem cells derived from embryos produced for in vitro fertilization, embryos that would otherwise be needlessly destroyed.
(Taken from a pdf link away from the Barack Obama website - Link - Because this statement is put out by the Obama campaign, we have considered it appropriate to be placed in the "Obama Stated" section - Solidarity Institute research team)

OBAMA VOTED...
I.
Sen. Obama cosponsored and voted "yea" for Senate Bill 5 promoting the expansion of embryonic stem cell research.

Senate Bill 5 (110th Congress) (Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007) amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct and support research that utilizes human embryonic stem cells, regardless of the date on which the stem cells were derived from a human embryo.
(Senate Bill 5 - A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for human embryonic stem cell research. 6/7/2007. - link) 

II. 
Sen. Obama voted "nay" for Senate Bill 30 to support and promote adult* stem cell research.
Senate Bill 30 (110th Congress) (HOPE Act) amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop techniques for the isolation, derivation, production, or testing of stem cells, including pluripotent stem cells that have the flexibility of embryonic stem cells (whether or not they have an embryonic source), that may result in improved understanding of or treatments for diseases and other adverse health conditions, provided that such techniques do not involve: (1) the creation of a human embryo or embryos for research purposes; or (2) the destruction or discarding of, or risk of injury to, a human embryo of embryos other than those that are naturally dead.
(Senate Bill 30 - A bill to intensify research to derive human pluripotent stem cell lines. - THOMAS Library of Congress - link)
(*The Church supports this type of "adult" stem cell research because there is no destruction of human life.)  

III.
Sen. Obama cosponsored and voted "yea" for Senate Bill 471 promoting the expansion of embryonic stem cell research.

H.R. 810 (Senate Bill 471) (109th Congress) (Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005) - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct and support research that utilizes human embryonic stem cells, regardless of the date on which the stem cells were derived from a human embryo.
(Senate Bill 471 - A bill to amend the Public Health service Act to provide for human embryonic stem cell research. 2/15/2005 - link)

Solidarity Institute

Know Your Vote

Catholic Teachings

Other SI Work

Resources & Links

 

 

MEANING OF COLOR CLASSIFICATIONS 

I.
If a candidate receives a classification...

    RED    , this does not necessarily mean that the candidate is 100% in favor of the non-negotiable issue, only that the candidate's views find (some) serious and clear departure from that of the Catholic Church. 

YELLOW, this does not mean that the candidate is 50% in favor of the non-negotiable issue, only that there are details of the candidate's views that require the voter's compitant understanding.

  GREEN  , does not mean that the Church supports or endorses a specific candidate, only that the candidate agrees with the teaching of the Catholic Church on the specific non-negotiable. 

II.
Therefore if both candidates receive the same classification on a specific non-negotiable this does not necessarily mean that the candidates' positions are similar, nor that they carry the same degree of similarity or difference from the teaching of the Catholic Church.