Expert: Catholic objections wont leave ALS fundraiser all wet

The ALS ice bucket fundraising phenomenon sweeping across social media wont be chilled by a Cincinnati church leaders objection to the organization backing embryonic stem cell research, a local theologian predicted.

I dont think that bishops really give marching orders to lay people, said Stephen Pope, a theology professor at Boston College. I dont know that the statement is really going to have much impact.

He added that the Catholic Church teaches against the use of birth control, but that most Catholics who are married, at some point, use birth control.

The Herald reported yesterday that Jim Rigg, the superintendent of Catholic schools for the Cincinnati archdiocese, told students to avoid donating to the ALS Association because it supports research using embryonic stem cells, which runs counter to church teachings.

John Frates, the Catholic Beverly father of former BC baseball player Peter Frates who inspired the ice bucket challenge, told the Herald this week he understands the objections, but he just wants a cure for his son.

Although people giving to the ALS Association can direct their donations away from embryonic stem cell studies, its still a cooperation with evil, according to John Di Camillo, staff ethicist at the National Catholic Bioethics Center.

Just as theyre raising awareness to try and eliminate ALS, we want to raise awareness of the immorality of stem cell research and have that eliminated, he said.

The ALS Association said it has raised $41.8 million nationwide since the ice bucket challenge was launched last month 14 times the amount it raised during this time last year.

The organization only gives money to one stem cell study, according to Jan Obermann, care services manager for the nonprofits Massachusetts chapter.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has called the Cincinnati protest a local matter.

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Expert: Catholic objections wont leave ALS fundraiser all wet