(RNS) Christian leaders who have opposed embryonic stem cell research are praising the enactment of a new law that will enhance the collection of adult stem cells.
President George W. Bush signed the Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act of 2005 on Dec. 20.
“This is wonderful news for the many thousands of suffering patients who can benefit from umbilical cord blood stem cell treatments,” said Richard M. Doerflinger of the new legislation. He is the U.S. Catholic bishops’ expert on bioethics. “We are grateful to Congress and the president for enacting this legislation without further delay.”
Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., who began developing the bill in 2001, welcomed the passage of the legislation, which intends to prevent hospitals from discarding umbilical cords the cells of which he said have “achieved remarkable breakthroughs” in disease treatment. The law calls for authorization of $79 million for the collection and storage of cord blood stem cells.
