It’s a Stuffing Party!

ChelseaAmendment 2, PersonalLeave a Comment

Now, this is what I call a grassroots effort! Last night our little Gospel of Life committee had a stuffing party for the mailing we are sending to all of the families in our parish about Amendment 2. It went by surprisingly fast, too. We had roughly 1,200 letters to send and they were signed, stuffed, and sealed in almost exactly two hours! Of course it helped that I brought them in and had them all folded by machine earlier in the day!

I have included the text of the letter we sent (feel free to copy and distribute):Read More

New Ad for MAHC

ChelseaAmendment 2, videoLeave a Comment

I’m really excited about this ad. It is supposed to be played during the World Series tonight, if they play. It’s supposed to be raining. I won’t be able to see it because I’m going to a Missourians Against Human Cloning presentation that I will say a few words at. I’m looking forward to the presentation because my spinal cord doctor, Dr. Michael Acuff, will be the main speaker!

By the way, notice I didn’t call this a “response ad” to the Michael J. Fox ad, as it has been called elsewhere. This ad was in the works before Fox’s ad aired, although they did speed up production after his ad went to air.

Politicizing Disease

ChelseaPolitics, Stem Cell ResearchLeave a Comment

Most of you have probably heard about the campaign ad that Michael J. Fox did for politicians recently. He doesn’t say whether or not he stopped taking his medication before doing the commercial, however, in 1999, at a Senate subcommittee in Washington, he made a “deliberate choice to appear before the subcommittee without medication”, according to his book, Lucky Man. I am sure that he is probably doing what he thinks is right, based on his position as a well known public figure and a Parkinson’s patient. However, I am deeply saddened by his decision to use his situation to promote ES cell research when his own disease is being treated using gene therapy and AS cells, and may never be treated with ES cells.

This, folks, is why I have tried to put myself out there in this particular debate, besides the desire to defend human life. I am sick of seeing diseases and disabilities like mine exploited in order to advance research that destroys nascent human life and now to politicize sickness and disease.

Great Video on Stem Cell Research

ChelseaCloning, Stem Cell ResearchLeave a Comment

The Family Research Council has a really good video with basic stem cell information. I had a little trouble viewing it on the website, but there is a link to launch the external media player that worked much better for me. It’s a good introduction for someone who is new to the stem cell debate.

I sometimes take for granted my own knowledge of the subject and forget that there are many people, perhaps a majority, who do not understand, or are not aware of the basic principals of this issue. For example, at the Eldon Turkey Festival a few weeks ago, one man was amazed to find out that there was such a thing as adult stem (AS) cell research and that this research was treating over 70 different types of diseases and disabilities. Another couple, after the husband made the comment, “if you want to cure diseases you have to vote yes on that amendment,” stopped and litstened with great interest while I explained that there are actually two types of stem cell research, one that is treating people today(AS cell research), and another that may never treat humans because of its potential to cause tumors (embryonic stem (ES) cell research). I then further explained how Amendment 2 was primarily focused on ES cell research because of how much the research industry stands to gain from it financially.

This is a complicated issue for most people and it’s compounded by the deception of many in the biotech industry and the media’s inability to provide fair and accurate information to the public. I find it apalling that the media will report on the “promise” and “potential” of ES cell research to no end, while ignoring the tremendous breakthrough’s and tangible results of AS cell research. I am also saddened when I see people like Michael J. Fox, and other individuals with serious medical conditions buy into the hype, perpetrated by big biotech, and honestly believe that there is no hope for cures without the creation and destruction of human embryos. Every time I speak to folks about this I stress the fact that the media is not on our side and we cannot rely on them to tell us what we need to know. We must do the research ourselves to ensure that we are as informed as possible. A couple of places to start would be The Bioethics Defense Fund and The Coalition of Americans for Research Ethics
Medical research must always be guided by ethics.

Deception, Daughters, Dollars

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These are the 3 D’s of Amendment 2. The first one is self explanitory and has been the primary focus of those opposed to the Amendment. The amendment language redefines the term cloning in order to get away with claiming to ban the procedure. This language is conveniently left off of the official ballot language so uneducated voters will think that a yes vote will ban human cloning, when, in fact, it will protect it as a constitutional right.

The Daughters issue has brought together pro-choice and pro-life feminists because of the risks involved for young women. I still have a hard time believing that women get paid to have their eggs harvested for IVF. ES cell research and SCNT would require an infinite number of human eggs, therefore asking women to undergo dangerous, and life threatening treatments in the name of science.

Finally we have the problem of Dollars. This is what will get most people, even if they aren’t opposed to this kind of research. Amendment supporters claim that they are not asking for state funds, however, the amendment specifically states that, “no state or local governmental body or official shall eliminate, reduce, deny, or withhold any public funds provided or eligible to be provided to a person that (i) lawfully conducts stem cell research.” They may not be asking for it now, but it sure looks like they anticipate it in the future.

Spiritual Battle

ChelseaAmendment 2, ReligionLeave a Comment

rosary.jpgWe are in the midst of a spiritual battle, friends, and Catholics need to “have their uniform — the scapular — and sword — the rosary for such a battle.” In the Archbishop’s Column for the St. Louis Review this week he stressed prayer, along with education and evangelization. He specifically requested the rosary and the Rosary Crusade Safeguarding Embryonic Human Life. If you have not yet done so, I encourage you to join the Crusade and help us fight this spiritual battle in Missouri and the country. On November 2, at 10 a.m., Archbishop Burke has asked that we join him and the Catholic schools in the Archdiocese in praying this rosary to safeguard embryonic human life and defeat Amendment 2.

“…the victory belongs to our Lord Jesus Christ Who gave His life for all of us, from the moment of our conception. Our Lord Jesus, God the Son, Who became a human embryo at the moment of His Mother’s fiat will hear our prayers, offered through His Mother and ours, on behalf of our tiniest brothers and sisters.”

Supress the Debate

ChelseaAmendment 2, Politics2 Comments

That’s the goal of The Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures, backers of Amendment 2. After KRCG TV ran an ad by the Life Communications Fund warning voters of the “tricky” and deceptive language of Amendment 2, the Coalition sent a letter to the station threatening legal action if they play it, or any other ad from this, “irresponsible organization and similar organizations in the future.” This is a gross display of arrogance and fear by those who support Amendment 2. Clearly they want to stifle any sort of honest and open discussion about what they are trying to sell to Missouri voters and will stop at nothing to do it. Don’t let them get away with it. Find out the truth yourself and pass it on!

Follow the Money

ChelseaAmendment 2, Politics1 Comment

stacks-of-money.jpgThe fundraising reports for the November elections have been filed and the proponents of Amendment 2 have blown everyone out of the water, breaking every record on campaign spending. Out of the $28.7 million “raised” by the Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures, $28 million came from one wealthy couple, Jim and Virginia Stowers. The Stowers’ are also the primary benefactors of the Stowers Institute, a billion dollar research facility in Kansas City. This should be a red flag to all of us. Jaci Winship, from Missourians Against Human Cloning, accurately points out that this is, “not a broad-based citizens’ initiative.” Make no mistake, these people are attempting to buy a constitutional amendment that they will profit from in the future. Pass it on.

If you have trouble opening the link to the St. Louis Dispatch, try Life News.

Claire McCaskill

ChelseaAbortion, Politics, Religion, Stem Cell Research2 Comments

Alright, so I think I am one of the last Catholic bloggers to blog this sticker. My mother thinks it should say, “You can’t be Catholic and pro Claire.” It disturbs me greatly that any Catholic could be endorsed by Pro-Choice America, or even think that abortion should be, “safe, legal and rare.”

Claire recently used her Catholic faith to justify her position on Amendment 2 and embryonic stem (ES) cell research. In an interview with Tim Russert on Meet the Press she says, “my faith directs me to heal the sick.” That’s great, Claire, but your faith also directs that, “Those who are directly involved in lawmaking bodies have a grave and clear obligation to oppose any law that attacks human life. For them, as for every Catholic, it is impossible to promote such laws or to vote for them” (Vatican 2003). Amendment 2 is nothing more than an attack on human life at its very earliest stages when it is unable to defend itself. In his encyclical Evangelium Vitae, Pope John Paul II specifically states that, “the use of human embryos or fetuses as an object of experimentation constitutes a crime against their dignity as human beings…The killing of innocent human creatures, even if carried out to help others, constitutes an absolutely unacceptable act” (63).

Claire also goes on to say, “I come down on the side of hope, hope for cures.” This is a common statement from Amendment 2 supporters who believe that, in order to be “pro cures” one must accept cloning and ES cell research. Unfortunately people buy into this myth. At the Turkey Festival last Saturday I heard a number of people walk past our display and say, “if you want cures for diseases you should vote yes on that amendment.” This is what the Missouri Coalition would like you to believe, but it’s just not the case. You don’t have to support embryonic stem cell research to be in favor of cures. After over 20 years of research in animals, embryonic stem cells have produced nothing but tumors. Meanwhile, adult stem cells have been treating human beings for a number of years with new breakthroughs happening everyday! The idea that an endorsement of Amendment 2 and ES cell research means that you are more in favor of cures than someone who opposes such research is completely unfounded.

Clearly, Claire is confused and misguided, both about the Catholic faith and stem cell research. I would say that, more than anything, she needs our prayers, not our vote.

Pass It On

ChelseaAmendment 2Leave a Comment

Here is a lovely little ad about Amendment 2 by Missourians Against Human Cloning that you can pass along to all of your friends. The ad stresses the fact that this Amendment will provide a blank check to the biotech industry in Missouri using the tax payer’s money. Read the Amendment, it’s in there! Yet another good reason to vote no on Amendment 2, even if you are in favor of cloning.