Fighting Erupts In Abortion Wars

After a several month cease fire, renewed fighting broke out recently in the Missouri abortion wars.  Here is a press release issued by Missouri Right To Life regarding Governor Matt Blunt:

MISSOURI RIGHT TO LIFE QUESTIONS GOVERNOR

MATT BLUNT’S PRO-LIFE CREDENTIALS

The Board of Directors of Missouri Right to Life announced today that Governor Matt Blunt can no longer be considered pro-life because of his support of an initiative petition that would establish in the Missouri Constitution the right to do cloning and embryonic stem cell research, and to use tax dollars to pay for these procedures.

On October 11, 2005, a coalition that is powered by the billion-dollar Stowers Foundation of Kansas City announced a petition drive for the “Missouri Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative.”  Governor Matt Blunt has given his support to the initiative, which is advertised as a measure that bans cloning while assuring that “ethical stem cell research” is guaranteed in Missouri law. 

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By supporting this initiative, the Governor has broken faith with the tens of thousands of pro-life volunteers around the state who helped elect him.  He has broken his pledge not to support using public money to pay for cloning or embryonic stem cell research.  He has broken his pledge not to allow any research that uses human embryos created by in-vitro fertilization (IVF).  He has reversed his campaign position stated to Missouri Right to Life of opposing  cloning, whether it is therapeutic cloning or reproductive cloning.  He can no longer be considered a pro-life official.

The “Missouri Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative” represents a serious threat to human life in Missouri because of the provisions outlined above.  It would divert the state’s limited resources from already-tested, effective adult stem cell research to governmentally-funded experimentation that sacrifices human embryos for benefits that will not be realized for decades, if at all.  Every legitimate pro-life organization in Missouri opposes it.  So should the Governor.