Catholics Backing Umbilical Cord Blood Banking

The Little Rock Diocese is excited about umbilical cord blood banking. Not only do members of the Roman Catholic hierarchy there express hope for the medical results obtainable via umbilical cord blood.

Here's an excerpt from a recent article on the topic:

"Linane said the initiative is supported by the Diocese of Little Rock as well because it promotes using nonembryonic stem cells for medical cures. The Catholic Church opposes embryonic stem-cell research because living human embryos are destroyed in the process of extracting the stem cells.

The extraction of stem cells from umbilical-cord blood "is not morally or ethically controversial," Fox said. "This is the child's first gift to the rest of the world."

The religious debate over fetal stem cell research may be the umbilical cord blood banking industry's best friend. The article quoted above can be found here.