Category Archives: Iowa Stem Cells

DUBUQUE (KWWL) - The Archbishop of the Dubuque Diocese is asking Catholics participating in the ice bucket challenge to donate to the John Paul II Medical Research Institute in Iowa City instead of the ALS Association.

As of Wednesday, The ALS Association has received $94.3 million in donations, most of which are attributed to the recent ice bucket challenge.

Archbishop Michael Jackels has now released a statement urging Catholics participating to donate to another organization helping to fight ALS.

"Donating to the ALS Association is inconsistent with Catholic moral teaching as it promotes stem cell research that destroys embryonic human beings, Jackels said. Catholic individuals, parishes, schools, and other entities in the Archdiocese of Dubuque, if they participate in the Ice Bucket Challenge, are asked to send their donations to the John Paul II Medical Research Institute in Iowa City."

Other Catholic archbishops have asked the same of their congregations, and the ALS Association has responded to the church by saying, The ALS Association primarily funds adult stem cell research. Currently, The Association is funding one study using embryonic stem cells (ESC), and the stem cell line was established many years ago under ethical guidelines set by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS); this research is funded by one specific donor, who is committed to this area of research. In fact, donors may stipulate that their funds not be invested in this study or any stem cell project.

To read Jackels full statement, click here: http://www.dbqarch.org/about/archbishop-jackels/messages-from-archbishop-jackels/

To read the ALS Association's full statement, click here:http://www.alsa.org/news/media/press-releases/statement-on-stemcell-research.html

To learn more about the John Paul II Medical Research Institute, click here:http://jp2mri.org/

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Catholics asked to NOT donate to the ALS Association

Richmond, VA - The Catholic Diocese of Richmond is joining a growing number of Catholic church authorities that are warning members about religious conflicts related to the recent ice bucket challenge phenomenon.

Last week 29 Catholic Schools that fall under Richmond's umbrella were notified.

On Tuesday 146 parishes were also informed by letter.

A spokeswoman said thediocese supports all the work being done to take on ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, butthey want members to research where it is they send their money to benefit the cause.

Leaders point out that the ALS Association does some testing using embryonic stem cells - which the Catholicchurchconsiders immoral.

The suggestion is to donate to groups that use adult stem cells in their research and not embryonic stem cells.

"Embryonic stem cell research... as part of that research an embryo is destroyed. So, of course, we cannot support any research that destroys a human embryo because all life is sacred at all stages of human development,"said Diana Snider who is the diocese's communications manager.

The Catholic church endorses groups like the John Paul II Medical Research Institute, based in Iowa, which does not use embryonic stem cells in their research.

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Catholic Church At Odds With Ice Bucket Challenge

MEMPHIS, Tenn. Catholics are being advised to be careful to whom they donate if they choose to accept the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge and being given alternatives.

Animal rights activists and some others are also being cautious.

Youve likely seen numerous people dump ice water on themselves then pledge to donate to the ALS Association.

Bishop J. Terry Steib of the Memphis Catholic Diocese has not issued an official statement, but others have.

The concern centers around the support of the ALS Association for embryonic stem cell research.

That research uses a fertilized embryo, often left over from IVF treatments.

The Archdiocese of St. Louis released a statement saying, Embryonic stem cell research is always morally objectionable because a human person must be destroyed to harvest his or her stem cells. As the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith stated: The use of embryonic stem cells or differentiated cells derived from them even when these are provided by other researchers through destruction of embryos or when such cells are commercially available presents serious problems from the standpoint of cooperation in evil and scandal.

Catholics and others are still encouraged to take part in the challenge but to donate to the John Paul II Medical Research Institute in Iowa City, that does ALS research but not with embryos.

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Why some are wary about doing ALS challenge

ST. LOUIS, MO (KTVI) A viral campaign to raise money to fight amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS is sweeping the nation. People are posting videos to Facebook or Twitter challenging their friends to donate to the cause.

The Archdiocese of St. Louis says that there is nothing wrong with raising money to fight the disease. They are not discouraging Catholics from participating. But, they want to make sure that the funds are used to support morally just research.

A statement in part reads, Embryonic stem cell research is always morally objectionable because a human person must be destroyed to harvest his or her stem cells. As the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith stated: The use of embryonic stem cells or differentiated cells derived from them even when these are provided by other researchers through destruction of embryos or when such cells are commercially available presents serious problems from the standpoint of cooperation in evil and scandal.

They are asking Catholics to donate to the John Paul II Medical Research Institute in Iowa City. Donations can be made online at http://www.jp2mri.org

Read the full statement here: http://archstl.org/node/4330223

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Archdiocese of St. Louis warning about the, Ice Bucket Challenge

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The ALS ice bucket challenge has arrived in Gainesville. The nationally ranked Brenau University competitive cheerleading squad was challenged on Facebook by Chestatee High junior varsity cheerleader Kaylee Grace Lucas to take the ALS ice bucket challenge. The challenge is raising funds for research on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrigs disease. Brenau Universitys Makenzi Wooten, left, drenches Kaylynn Samples as they both take the ALS ice bucket challenge at the schools amphitheater.Associated Press

CINCINNATI (AP) A Roman Catholic diocese in Ohio is discouraging its 113 schools from participating in the ice bucket challenge to benefit the ALS Association, saying the group's funding of embryonic stem cell research is "in direct conflict with Catholic teaching."

Jim Rigg, superintendent of Catholic schools for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, told the schools in a letter Tuesday to "immediately cease" any plans to raise funds for the association and to instead direct donations to another organization that combats ALS, a progressive neurodegenerative disease also known as Lou Gehrig's disease that causes paralysis and almost certain death.

The Catholic Church relates the use of embryonic stem cells in research to abortion and says it violates the sanctity of human life. The use of adult stem cells in research is not forbidden by Catholic teaching.

"We certainly appreciate the compassion that has caused people all over the country, certainly including many Catholics, to be interacting and engaging in a fun way to support ALS research," diocese spokesman Dan Andriacco said.

Carrie Munk, a spokeswoman for the ALS Association, said her group largely funds adult stem cell research, but does fund one study involving embryonic stem cells using money from one specific donor.

She said all donors to the ALS Association can stipulate where their money goes and can ask that it not pay for embryonic stem cell research. Munk said she hasn't heard of other Catholic dioceses recommending against donating to the group.

The diocese said schools could participate in the ice bucket challenge, but any money raised should be directed to groups like the John Paul II Medical Research Institute in Iowa City, Iowa, which conducts "pro-life driven" research, according to its website.

Don Clemmer, a spokesman for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said that his organization has not issued any directives to its bishops.

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Ohio diocese discourages ice bucket challenge