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Embryonic stem cells unneeded?
Adult cells more readily available, Parkinson’s treatment failing

Researchers and legislators who support the use of embryonic stem cells for research may lose their justification for using the remains of aborted children, according to British Broadcasting reports.

The BBC reported in February that the company which cloned the sheep “Dolly” has announced a new discovery which could make the use of adult stem cells an even more viable alternative than it already is. The American subsidiary of Edinburgh-based PPL Therapeutics has succeeded in converting skin tissue from cows into beating heart cells. This was done by “rewinding” the genetic clock of the skin cells so as to create “unprogrammed” master stem cells. “The reverted cells were then programmed to develop into functioning beating heart cells, in the laboratory,” reported the British broadcaster. Dr. Ron James, managing director of the company, said that he believed the technology would be equally applicable to humans.

The news was welcomed by religious leaders and pro-life forces. It is an “encouraging breakthrough” and “certainly a step in the right direction,” said Dr. Donald Bruce, a spokesman for the Church of Scotland, upon hearing of the breakthrough. [Just days later, proponents of fetal research were dealt another blow—and pro-life advocates received new scientific support for their cause—when a medical journal disclosed that the use of fetal tissue in experimental medical treatments had encountered “disastrous” side effects. See the final story in this World Watch section.]

No to a nuclear protest
Cardinal balks at civil disobedience

Scotland’s Cardinal Thomas Winning has defended his decision not to take part in the blockade of the Faslane nuclear base.

Cardinal Winning turned down the invitation from other religious leaders to take part in the mass demonstration saying that, while the Church was in favor of nuclear disarmament, she wished to distance herself from “civil disobedience.”

A spokesman for the cardinal told the BBC that the Catholic Church had made her position on nuclear weapons very clear. “As far back as 1982, the Bishops of Scotland published a declaration which stated that ‘if it is immoral to use nuclear weapons, it is also immoral to threaten their use,’” he said. “We are on record in recent years, calling for the government to increase investment in our health service, ‘spending less on defense of the realm and more on defense of the sick.’”

The cardinal’s spokesman said the Catholic Church did not want to be seen to condone civil disobedience in her fight against nuclear weapons. “We do, however, have misgivings about the methods of civil disobedience which are likely to be used during the protest and which our presence would appear to condone,” he said. “The Catholic Church in Scotland has been very careful not to condone such acts by anti-abortion demonstrators, for example.”

The Scottish cardinal’s stance appears to be at variance with the official teachings of the universal Church and with statements issued by other prelates, which leave some room for legitimate nuclear deterrence, and remain silent on the proper proportions of government spending—but do allow for peaceful acts of resistance against an ujust law or policy.

More than 370 peace protesters, including 15 clergymen, were detained at the protest, which also saw members of parliament—Socialist Tommy Sheridan, Labor’s George Galloway, and Green Party member Caroline Lucas—arrested. An ecumenical service of prayer was held outside the gates of the base as part of the demonstration.