The Deceitful
Tongue of Amendment 2
“The tongue that brings healing is a tree of
life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.” (Proverbs 15:4 NIV).
Amendment 2, the
Missouri Stem Cell Research and Cures Amendment, is perhaps the boldest attempt
ever to high-jack the legitimate processes, procedures, and functions of
representative government in Missouri. Its basic mechanism is a language
structure that is designed to deceive the casual reader by reversing reasonable
inferences about the text in subsequent subsections. (Missouri Roundtable For Life / www.moroundtable.org)
As citizens of Missouri
(and of Heaven), it is important to understand that this Amendment usurps
the procreative process God has ordained and insults Him as the Lord and giver
of life. It does this by: 1. 
Legitimizing
the cloning of human beings as a constitutional right, and 2. Mandating the
destruction of human beings so created.
The
following are just a few of the specific examples of the deceitful tongue of
this Amendment.
(A) The words of the Amendment: “No person may clone or attempt
to clone a human being.” [2(1)] This sounds good but...further reading of the
Amendment says: ‘“Clone or attempt to clone’ means to implant in a
uterus...anything other than the product of fertilization...” [6(2)]
The truth: Cloning takes place before
implantation. Dolly the sheep was Dolly the sheep several days before she was
implanted into a uterus. Saying that cloning is implanting is contrary to the
universally accepted scientific definition of cloning. Implanting is one of the
things you can do with a cloned human being, but it is not cloning.
Since implantation is not allowed, embryos created by cloning must be
destroyed.
(B) The words of the Amendment:
“No human blastocyst may be produced by fertilization solely for the
purpose of stem cell research.” [2(2)] This sounds good but...further reading
of the Amendment it says: “‘Solely
for the purpose of stem cell research’ means producing human blastocysts using in vitro fertilization exclusively for
stem cell research, but does not include producing any number of human blastocysts for the purpose of treating human infertility.”
[6(11)]
The truth: As long as the production
of blastocysts (human embryos) is not solely for the
purpose of research - in other words, if they are also being produced to treat
infertility - those embryos can be used for research.
(C) The words of the Amendment:
“No person
may, for valuable consideration, purchase or sell human blastocysts
or eggs for stem cell research.” [2(4)] This sounds good but...further reading
of the Amendment says “Valuable
consideration...does not include the consideration paid to a donor of human
eggs or sperm by a fertilization clinic or sperm bank....” [6(17)]
The truth: Payment for eggs could
very well be outsourced to fertility clinics under this provision. Fertility
clinics would become the middle man in the business of selling and buying eggs.
As mentioned above these are just a few specific examples of the deceitful
tongue of Amendment 2. Other problems
embedded in it include:
1. At least 45 other
sections of the Missouri Constitution may be altered by this amendment.
2. Ambiguous language about unborn human life
(e.g. “the product of fertilization”) would supersede - since it’s a Constitutional
Amendment - medically accurate language already in legislation (e.g. “It is the
intention of the general assembly of the state of Missouri to grant the right
to life to all humans, born and unborn.” (Missouri Revised Statues, Regulation
of Abortions 188.015)).
3. Does not allow for
any legislative oversight. Any government actions that “discourage” or “create
disincentives” for any stem cell research would be unconstitutional. [7 (i & ii)]
4. Opens the door for unlimited tax-payer funds to
be used for the cloning and destruction of human embryos. (5)
The Missouri cloning amendment
not only uses a deceitful tongue, but challenges God as the Lord of Life.
Christians, therefore, are compelled to be “a tongue that brings healing.”
Share the truth about this amendment. More importantly, share the truth about
your God and His great love for life.
More
details on the above may be found in A Word-By-Word Critique Of The So-Called ‘Missouri Stem Cell Research And Cures Initiative’”
at www.moroundtable.org.
The above was adapted from a Lutherans For
Life handout. For more information about Lutherans for Life please visit their
website at www.lutheransforlife.org or all toll free (888) 364-5433 or (515)
382-2077.
