Princeton professor Robert P. Geore recently spoke at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and accurately pointed out that the issue of embryonic stem cell research is not whether or not it will ever lead to treatments, but should deal with the life of the embryos used for research:

“The reason we should be opposed is a moral reason. [Embryonic stem cell research] involves, at least for now, the destruction of innocent human life to obtain the cells…The two fundametal questions surrounding embryonic stem cell research concern the definition of a human being and the respect owed to embryos, he said…Embryos are worthy of moral respect because they have the capacity for “characteristically human mental functions,” he said…If embryos may be destroyed for scientific research, then it follows that scientists should be able to destroy infants as well because infants also lack the ability to exercise their capacity for mental functions”