If you’ve been on any form of social media over the past
few weeks, you’ve most likely seen videos of people being doused by large
buckets of ice water, often with the assistance of their all-too-willing family
members and friends. The videos are both
hilarious and inspiring. Celebrities,
politicians, sports figures, policemen, firefighters, pastors, priests, and
thousands of other people are engaging in what is becoming one of the most
successful non-profit, viral fundraising campaigns in modern history — the ALS
Ice Bucket Challenge.
ALS stands for amyotrophic
lateral sclerosis, but it’s more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s
disease — a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in
the brain and the spinal cord. It is a
fatal condition and impacts some 30,000 Americans at any given time.
The success of the Ice Bucket Challenge has been amazing.
The
ALS Association reports it has raised over $15.6 million dollars in
donations as of August 18th, compared to $1.8 million during that same time
period last year. This social media
campaign continues to pick up steam, so the
ALS Association could reap unprecedented dollars and new donors in the
coming weeks and months. America
continues to show that it is the most compassionate, most generous population
on the planet.
Like those who have participated, I desperately want a
cure for ALS to be found. From what I
understand, the suffering, pain, and degenerative nature of the disease are
horrible. It wreaks havoc on its victims
and their families across the country.
What most people don’t realize, however, is that the ALS Association supports and is
currently engaged in embryonic stem cell research. In other words, they support the practice of
killing unborn embryos for medical research.
The ALS Association website states, “Adult
stem cell research is important and should be done alongside embryonic stem
cell research as both will provide valuable insights. Only through exploration of all types of stem
cell research will scientists find the most efficient and effective ways to
treat diseases.”
The American Life
League contacted the ALS Association
to inquire if they are currently engaged in embryonic stem cell research. They replied:
“The ALS Association primarily funds ‘adult’ stem cell
research. Currently, the Association is funding one study using
embryonic stem cells (ESC), and the stem cell line was established many years
ago under ethical guidelines set by the National
Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS); this research is
funded by one specific donor who is committed to this area of research. In fact, donors may stipulate that their funds
not be invested in this study or any stem cell project. Under very strict guidelines, the Association may fund embryonic stem cell
research in the future.”
Make no mistake; embryonic stem cell research is simply
abortion by another name. In the process
of extracting cells from an embryo’s body for medical research purposes, the
embryo is killed. That means our
increasingly utilitarian society allows the killing of helpless, voiceless
members of the human race in order to perform medical research that will
supposedly cure its more developed members.
Those of us who recognize that all life is sacred —
regardless of size, location, level of development, or degree of dependency —
must vehemently object to killing human embryos for any reason … including medical research. No significant progress or cure has been
found by using embryonic stem cells, whereas substantial progress has been made
with adult stem cells (which involve no killing of human beings).
Before you douse yourself in cold water, consider
contacting the ALS Association urging
them to discontinue their embryonic stem cell research program and their
support of the practice in general. As
an organization committed to improving the quality of life of those victims
suffering from ALS, they should also be committed to protecting every other
member of the human race … including the unborn.
As for me, don’t challenge me nor expect me to donate in lieu
of being doused by a bucket of ice water.
I already make my donations to pro-life organizations that respect the
unborn.
Rev.
Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.
Chaplain
(Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army
Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel
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