InsideCatholic.com - Cardinal Pell offers major grant for adult stem cell research

November 20, 2009

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Cardinal Pell offers major grant for adult stem cell research

by Brian Saint-Paul

7/08/09

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This is called walking the walk: The Archdiocese of Sydney (Australia) is offering a $100,000 grant to researchers interested in exploring the medical potential of adult stem cells.

The Sydney Archdiocese announced the grant on Wednesday, saying it is still vehemently opposed to embryonic stem cell research but approves of the use of adult stem cells....
"The Catholic Church promotes and encourages medical research and we strongly support stem cell research and other forms of biotechnology that respect the dignity of every human life," [George] Cardinal Pell said in a statement....
The Catholic Church says the grant will be awarded by an independent assessment panel.
This is the fourth adult stem cell grant the Church has awarded since 2002, with $300,000 already given.

One person has commented on this article.

Quote(1) Is there greater strategy to this funding?
July 08th, 2009 | 1:59pm

This is a great example in a world where there are so many demands the Church hierarchy "do something" about x, y, and z.

I wonder if these grants are strategic enough.

Suppose, for instance, that an effective embryonic stem cell technique for generating blood cells is developed (at least one is in development). This innovation would discourage people from donating blood and create moral dilemmas for Catholic and other pro-life hospitals and doctors in a basic procedure like blood transfusion.

If an adult stem cell technique for blood cell production were developed instead, this dilemma would be avoided and might even become a profitable source of further ethical grants and research.

Catholic universities should be taking the lead on this, with their business and institutional connections, but their mission is so confused right now.

Written by Kevin J Jones

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