Press Release

Conservative Bioethics Agenda Bullying Americans to Support Total Cloning Ban

For Immediate Release - Contact: Tony Hileman (202) 238-9088
thileman@americanhumanist.org - www.americanhumanist.org

(Washington, DC, March 8, 2005) “We are deeply troubled by new and pending efforts to indiscriminately condemn the advancement of science based on a conservative bioethics agenda,” states Tony Hileman, executive director of the American Humanist Association. “That the United Nations succumbed to US pressure in a nonbinding recommendation to ban scientific research only serves to underline our concern.”

Humanists seek to ensure that a full range of ethical and safe scientific choices remain available, unhindered by the constraints of sectarian or political dogma. Toward this end, the AHA has adopted two resolutions* clearly outlining the ethical considerations involved in reproductive cloning and stem cell research.

Advances in the biological and medical sciences affect all our lives. While progress can arouse fear, consternation, and confusion among the uninformed—and should evoke caution in all—stem cell research is a highly regarded tool. “Research using human embryonic stem cells holds great potential for treatment of Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, spinal cord injuries, and other debilitating afflictions,” emphasizes the AHA’s resolution, Supporting the Use of Human Stem Cells in Research and Therapy.

“The blatant effort to thwart science in the guise of advancing the nation’s ‘moral values’ is a thinly disguised attempt to impose a religiously motivated agenda on all Americans,” states Hileman. “Those pressing this agenda make no secret of their desire to enact what they see as a ‘widespread moral consensus’ into national law,” adds Mel Lipman, AHA president. “Fundamentally religious views, widespread or narrowly held, should not shape our nation’s laws. America was founded as and has always striven to be an ethical democracy, not a theocracy.”

The AHA’s resolution, Considering Reproductive Cloning “opposes any permanent ban on reproductive cloning and instead encourages the continuation of scientific research and the simultaneous development of rational ethical guidelines so as to ensure the safe application of this technology and to protect against its misuse or abuse.”

“Scientists should not be restricted in their freedom to ethically pursue research that can better the lives of all, and should receive our nation’s full support in their humanitarian efforts” concludes Hileman.

* Please see the resolutions at:
www.americanhumanist.org/StemCellResolution.doc
www.americanhumanist.org/CloningResolution.doc

The American Humanist Association is the oldest and largest Humanist organization in the nation. The AHA is dedicated to ensuring a voice for those with a positive nontheistic outlook, based on reason and experience, which embraces all of humanity .

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