Stemming stem cell research

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Massachusetts' Republican Gov. Mitt Romney has infuriated Harvard scientists by declaring opposition to stem-cell research on embryos created for this purpose.

"Some of the practices that Harvard and probably other institutions in Massachusetts are engaged in cross the line of ethical conduct," Mr. Romney told the New York Times.

In a telephone conversation, Mr. Romney told me he thinks the Harvard scientists have "pulled a bait-and-switch." At first, he says, they agreed enough stem cells could be obtained from discarded embryos at fertilization clinics, which did not present an ethical problem to him because these embryos would be destroyed anyway. The scientists now lobby for creating and cloning embryos simply for experimentation, which he opposes.

The radically "pro-choice" New York Times, which rarely credits any pro-lifer with standing on principle, suggests Mr. Romney may be taking this position to curry favor with social conservatives to facilitate a pursuit of higher office.

It is difficult to take such cynicism seriously when one considers Mr. Romney's wife, Ann, has multiple sclerosis, a disease that backers of stem cell research claim might be cured if they are permitted to do what they wish to embryos. That the Romneys would put principles ahead of self-interest is rare in politics.

Mr. Romney says medical and scientific authorities have told him that enough stem cells exist or can be obtained from fertility clinics and other sources to avoid therapeutic cloning and the destruction of embryos created specifically for this type of research. "Creating human life for research and human experimentation is ethically wrong," he told me.

The governor's problem " indeed, the greater problem " is that culture has moved beyond objective truth. Science has effectively declared itself god and scientists its high priests. What scientists say they can achieve is all that matters. Anyone not bowing to their claims is labeled a heretic and must suffer the kind of denunciation, ostracism and rejection once reserved in old horror movies for "mad scientists."

This is why the slippery slope analogy applies in cases such as stem-cell research. Having abandoned an Author and definer of life, it quickly becomes possible and then probable that any value attached to a living thing " particularly a human being " is simply a matter of individual or societal whim. Such values, like a fluctuating stock market, may change at any moment and for any reason, or no reason.

A society that readily tolerates 45 million legal abortions (and counting) and feels a need to "do something" about the financial "burden" of the sick and elderly is unlikely to be morally aroused by the destruction of embryos, even for cloning and other experimental purposes. Besides, aren't we killing in order to live? Isn't the goal of healing diseases and lengthening life worth any cost? Only in a world where the self is deified and nothing stands in the way of getting whatever will give us pleasure and make us "happy."

If a horror like partial-birth abortion does not shock our moral sensibilities, it is unlikely destroying human embryos, which have sufficient chromosomes to become fully developed babies, will get our attention.

Mr. Romney's comments came after a bill was introduced to clear up ambiguities in Massachusetts law and allow such research. It's difficult to predict what the mostly Democrat Massachusetts legislature will do, though some members stand with the governor in opposing therapeutic cloning and research on embryos created to be killed.

Perhaps a majority will come to their senses after considering how we got to this point and where we would be headed if the few remaining protections for human life are removed.

Do legislators want scientists to decide by themselves what is right, moral and ethical just so this grisly business can be done for profit and "prestige" in Massachusetts? It is unlikely legislators would grant such unrestricted power to any other profession or industry.

If Mr. Romney wins this battle, he will have done so on principle. Perhaps his stand will serve as an example of what can happen when a politician puts more noble things ahead of self-interest.

Cal Thomas is a nationally syndicated columnist.