Hundreds attend educational seminar discussing controversial life issues
First of two parts
By Rayanne Damiano
Editor-in-Chief
Erick Rommel
Head Staff Writer
An expose on the newest assaults against human life; an affirmation of the post-abortion healing movement, and a celebration of the gifts of all human persons took center spotlight at this year’s Critical Life Issues Conference.
An estimated 300 persons traveling from all corners of the region attended the annual event held Oct. 9 in St. John Neumann Pastoral Center, Piscataway. Sponsored by the diocesan Office of Pro-Life Activities, the conference featured an opening Mass celebrated by Bishop Paul G. Bootkoski and a guest performance and post-abortion witness offered by Tony award winner Melba Moore.
An emotional highlight was the dedication of the day’s event to the memory of pro-life activist and advocate Rita Martin. Described as “a champion for life,” Martin’s many contributions to the pro-life effort in the diocese and across the nation were celebrated in an exhibit, a special section in the program booklet and a tribute ceremony during the luncheon.
Remembered particularly for her work on behalf of women facing crisis pregnancies, Martin died suddenly in 2000, leaving behind a legacy in support of the sanctity of human life.
During his homily, Bishop Bootkoski put abortion into a historical-religious context, pointing out that crude forms of abortion were available in biblical times. “Could you imagine the pressure that could be placed on Mary by her parents or her friends to abort that child?” he asked the capacity crowd in chapel. “Can you imagine if the Savior had been aborted?”
Bishop Bootkoski put partial blame for the life issue problems facing society on those who make up the community. “The problem is that people are unchurched or have no inkling about God in their lives,” he said. “A lot of people think they are Jesus Christ, and that they can pick and choose life issues. People choose not to hear, because it’s not simple and not convenient.”
The bishop made sure to point out that life issues aren’t simply related to abortion, but to all aspects of society. “How many people who have been either physically or mentally handicapped have had an effect on life?” he asked, adding that people of faith need to speak out and say, “Who are you to judge who should live and who should die? Are you the Christ?”
Each Life Has Value
The keynote speaker at the event, Mark Pickup, also addressed these questions. Pickup suffers from chronic, progressive multiple sclerosis. He’s an advocate for disability rights and inclusion within society as well as a vocal opponent of euthanasia, physician assisted suicide and embryonic stem cell research. He’s received many awards, including the Msgr. Bill Irwin Award for Ethical Excellence and founded the Christian disability organization Human Life Matters.
Pickup spoke about the importance of the human family. “When I say ‘human family,’ I use it to mean everyone,” he said, “the welcome and unwelcome . . . the homeless and those who enjoy the family hearth.”
In discussing the inscription on the base of the Statue of Liberty, “Give us your tired, your poor, your huddled masses, yearning to breathe free,” Pickup said, “God has blessed America; founded as a country of exiles, it’s grown into the mightiest nation in the world.” He then asked, “How can this mighty nation now have cast off 42 million children before they’ve seen the light of day?”
Another statement of American virtue, the Declaration of Independence also caught his attention. “The first right mentioned in that blazing Declaration of Independence was the right to life,” he said. “There was no mention of the right to death.”
That statement plays a critical role in Pickup’s own situation. Now somewhat mobile in a wheelchair, he lives with the knowledge that one day he will likely be bedridden. “If the handicapped are not welcome in the America of the 21st century, where are they welcomed?”
Reflecting on frequently touted misconception that society should respect the wishes of people who want to die, Pickup countered that people with critical illnesses should not be held responsible for the things they say in their darkest hours. He stressed, “People must be able to grieve loss, say the most outrageous things, and not be held responsible. After two or three years [suffering from MS], my judgment became clouded. I’m thankful no one offered assisted suicide then.
“If I choose assisted suicide, it won’t affect just me,” Pickup explained. “It will affect my wife, my family, my parents, even my doctor; turning her into an executioner from a healer.”
Those beliefs are also the reason why Pickup will never allow himself to benefit from medical advances from embryonic stem cell research. “Progressive MS is destroying me,” he said. “For 20 years, I’ve fought for human rights from conception. What if there was a cure? It is better to live in a half dead body than achieve delivery from MS at the cost of another life.”
Stem Cell Myth-busting
Dr. David Prentice, went into greater detail discussing stem cell research during his presentation. Prentice is senior fellow for life sciences with the Family Research Council. His research investigates cell growth control with a focus on adult stem cells. He is a founding member of the organization Do No Harm: The Coalition of Americans of Research Ethics.
Pointing to the difference in kinds of stem cells, Dr. Prentice explained that embryonic stem cells come from an embryo approximately seven days from the start of life. The embryo must be destroyed to harvest the cells. Adult stem cells are found in most parts of the body. “They even found stem cells in liposuction fat,” he said, joking, “if there’s ever a need for unlimited stem cells,” scientists know where to look.
Despite the claims of the bioethics lobby, reverberated this very week in statements made by the Democratic vice-presidential candidate John Edwards, no embryonic stem cells have been used to successfully treat anything. Adult stem cells, conversely, have been used to treat stroke, heart damage, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease and spinal cord injury, Dr. Prentice reported. He added that embryonic stem cells are difficult to establish and maintain, they have a tendency to form tumors and are often rejected by the patients in which they’re used. Those problems are non-existent for patients using adult stem cells from their own bodies.
“These are the cells that are working,” he said, discussing the adult stem cells. “This is not hype. This is real treatment for real problems.”
Dr. Prentice told the capacity-filled auditorium about Dennis Turner, a California man with Parkinson’s disease. In April 2002, he was treated using adult stem cells from his own brain. Today, his Parkinson’s is virtually undetected and he’s all but cured.
Despite the fact that there is no measurable success with embryonic
stem cell treatment, and that using this genetic material is extremely
costly and problematic, the crux of the issue still comes down to “What
does it mean to be human?” Dr. Prentice said. He asked, “Is
a clone a person, or property? To whom do we choose to assign value?
Will every human being count? Will we respect all life or not?”
*The attached/referenced article was originally published in The Catholic Spirit, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Metuchen, and is protected under U.S. and international copyright law