Faith based organizations critical of ALS Association's research

BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC) -

The concern that's being voiced by some individuals and groups, including some faith based organizations, is that the group receiving most of the donations, the ALS Association, conducts research using immoral methods.

But officials with the ALS Association say get all the facts before you make that decision.

Through the ice bucket challenge, close to $90 million has now been raised for ALS research.

"It's unprecedented, nothing we planned and more than we could have ever hoped for," said Cassie Barnes, Executive Director of the ALS Association's Alabama Chapter.

The majority of the money raised has gone to the ALS Association. But now some groups, including the Catholic Diocese of Birmingham, are urging people not to give to that group saying they conc duct research using embryonic stem cells.

"We have to be mindful of how they do their research. Not all medical research will respect life and the catholic church teaches we should respect life from the moment of conception to natural death. Father Doug Vu said, Spokesperson for the Catholic Diocese of Birmingham.

Father Vu stresses the Catholic Church is not against the challenges or finding a cure for any disease

"But we can never destroy life in hopes of finding a cure for sickness and or illness society might have," Father Vu said.

Cassie Barnes is head of the ALS Association's Alabama chapter and says yes, there is one single research project funded by the national chapter that uses embryonic stem cells.

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Faith based organizations critical of ALS Association's research