Let’s Put an End to Human Cloning in Missouri

Commentary by Jim Day

If you’ve had time to read or watch the news, on August 22 a coalition of concerned Missouri citizens, physicians, and academics launched the Cures Without Cloning (CWC) initiative to prohibit human cloning in Missouri.

Unfortunately, the initial petition language delivered to the Secretary of States office was an early draft and during the few days that it took CWC to update the petition language with the Secretary of State’s office, those who favor human cloning started attacking the CWC campaign.

The ‘clone to kill’ crowd claimed that people with conditions like Down, Turner or Klinefelter Syndromes who only have 45 or 47 chromosomes (depending upon their condition) were not considered human according to the initiative.

Donn Rubin, chairman of the Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures – the organization that spearheaded the passage of last year’s amendment to Missouri’s Constitution which gave constitutional protections to human cloning - called the CWC initiative language “shocking and egregious” and stated, “We can already see that this is a deceptively written proposal....”

When Curt Mercadante, spokesman for Cures Without Cloning, heard of the objection his first response was, “Are they serious?” and called the concern a “political smoke screen.”

I myself found Rubin’s comments extremely hypocritical given the fact that last year’s amendment ballot language was probably the most outrageously misleading and deceptive ballot language that has ever been put before the voters of Missouri. And, what ‘should be’ “shocking and egregious” to Mr. Rubin, and those who supported last year’s amendment, is the fact that that amendment codified the murder of innocent human beings in Missouri in their earliest form of life.

It goes beyond absurdity for anyone or any organization to accuse any entity in Missouri that has been publicly connected to trying to stop efforts to clone humans for research purposes of being anything less than pro-life.

The New Language

In order to clear the air so-to-speak, CWC resubmitted the petition language which reads as follows:

The Proposed Amendment to the Constitution of Missouri

Be it resolved by the people of the state of Missouri that the Constitution be amended:

One new section is adopted by adding one new section to be known as Section 38(e) of Article III, to read as follows:

Section 38(e) 1. It shall be unlawful to clone or attempt to clone a human being as that term is defined in subsection 2 of this section. Researchers may conduct stem cell research to discover cures for disease and develop stem cell therapies and cures, provided that the research complies with the limitations of this section and the limitations of Section 38(d). The prohibition of this section shall be in addition to the prohibitions of Section 38(d)

2. For all purposes within this article, “Clone or attempt to clone a human being” means create or attempt to create a human embryo at any stage, which shall include the one-cell stage onward, by any means other than fertilization of a human egg by a human sperm.

3. No taxpayer dollars shall be expended: (1) to clone or attempt to clone a human being; or (2) to research or experiment using a human embryo, or any part of a human embryo, derived from cloning or attempting to clone a human being.

Notice: You are advised that the proposed constitutional amendment may change, repeal, or modify by implication, or may be construed by some persons to change, repeal or modify by implication, Article III, Sections 36 and 38(d), Article IV, Sections 23 and 28, and Article X, Sections 1, 2, and 3, of the Missouri Constitution.

The Need to Amend

Despite the misleading and deceptive messages that have already started to appear (and will only intensify from now until election day) from the Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures, their medical research, academic, political, and media accomplices in attempting to discredit and stop CWC’s campaign to prohibit human cloning, there is only one truth to this matter.

At issue is the procedure known scientifically as “somatic cell nuclear transfer,” in which a person’s cell is injected into a human egg, then stimulated to grow as if it had been fertilized by a sperm. Scientists then remove the resulting stem cells for research, destroying the newly formed embryo. Last year’s amendment actually created a loophole which enshrined a constitutional right to clone human embryos for the purpose of scientific research through somatic cell nuclear transfer.

The Cures Without Cloning initiative will close that cloning loophole that currently exists in Missouri’s Constitution. It will ensure that none of our tax dollars can be spent on human cloning experiments and it will allow researchers in our state to focus on the many avenues of ethical research that provide real cures and treatments and real hope for those suffering from diseases.

The new initiative WILL NOT prohibit stem cell research, WILL NOT repeal last year’s amendment, and WILL NOT stop the search for cures and treatments to alleviate suffering and pain. THIS IS NOT A STEM CELL ISSUE – IT IS A HUMAN CLONING ISSUE!

As Dr. Lori Buffa, of St. Peters, MO, a pediatrician serving as chairwoman for CWC has stated, “The Missouri Constitution currently has confusing language, which allows the same method of cloning that was used to create Dolly the sheep. The Cures Without Cloning initiative is meant to make it clear that human cloning within the State of Missouri would be prohibited. This initiative is very simple, very straightforward, and the wording is very clear. It is intended to ensure that cures are developed without human-cloning experimentation in our state. The vast majority of Missourians are in favor of research that does not include human cloning. This initiative genuinely bans human cloning in Missouri and will allow us to focus on safe research that leads to lifesaving cures and treatments.”

A Time to Gather

Once CWC’s initiative is approved by the Secretary of State’s office, CWC and a host of pro-family and pro-life organizations and their supporters state-wide will need to begin gathering an estimated 200,000 signatures to place the initiative on the 2008 ballot.

Since this is a citizens’ initiative, everyone who values life and their tax dollars will need to participate! Training sessions will be held in every county across Missouri to train people on how to gather petition signatures so that signatures can be gathered in a variety of places such as churches, shopping malls, public events, door-to-door in neighborhoods – you name it.

I am encouraging every reader of the MetroVoice to begin NOW by contacting family and friends, coworkers - whoever you know - and get them educated on this issue and get them prepared to sign a petition in their county. Remember, only registered voters in the State of Missouri can sign this petition so, if those you contact are not registered to vote, make sure they get registered.

Volunteers will be needed to help with a wide variety of tasks now and in the future. Once the initiative is approved it will be collecting signatures. Down the road volunteers will be needed in making phone calls, putting up and distributing yard signs, handing out literature in front of polling places, and so on. Whatever way you can help will be appreciated.

One way everyone can help right now is by supporting the organizations which are spearheading this initiative with a financial contribution – large or small. It’s going to take a lot of money to pay for this campaign.

For more information regarding the initiative, how you can get involved or contribute, visit www.MOcureswithoutcloning.com or call (314) 825-4466. The Missouri Chapter of Concerned Women for America (one of nation’s leading pro-family organizations) is also lending their support to this campaign. You can also contact them by calling their office at (636) 536-6506 or emailing them at cwaofmo@hotmail.com to get information on how to get involved in your area. My prayer is that everyone who reads this article will join me in supporting this important initiative in whatever way possible. With God’s blessing, let’s put an end to human cloning in Missouri!