Actors, athletes on different sides of embryonic stem-cell research

A war of television ads has broken out in Missouri over proposed Amendment 2, which would allow for state-funded embryonic stem-cell research. Proponents for the amendment tried the Hollywood appeal by creating a commercial with Michael J. Fox, who courageously battles with Parkinson's Disease and is an ardent support of ESR. Opponents of the amendment have created their own commercial with popular athletes and actors (most of whom are Catholic, btw) telling viewers not to be fooled by the promises some scientists are making with the unethical science of ESR.

Father Tad Pacholczyk as written several excellent columns on why ESR is wrong, including this one, that are archived on our Web site. It has never been about wanting those people with disabilities to suffer (although the Catholic Church gets portrayed that way), but about preventing the death of those most vulnerable in the womb for a process that has yet to show any significant results. You hear all the time from the media about those who are disabled and clamoring for ESR to help scientists find a cure. But I would vouch that there are quite a few disabled persons (my quadriplegic father is one of them) who would love to be healed but will not support ESR. Does that make them cold and unfeeling? Do we even hear about them in the press? Of course not.

Watch both of these commercials and share your thoughts with us, please.