Last
November, a dangerous and deceptive amendment to the Missouri constitution was narrowly approved
by voters (51% - 49%). The amendment claimed to ban cloning but in fact
created a constitutional right to clone human embryos as long as they were
killed for their stem cells before 14 days of development. So cloning of
the “therapeutic” variety is actually legal in Missouri at this time.
Yesterday
morning a new amendment was proposed by the group Cures Without Cloning.
The proposed amendment would close the glaring loopholes in last year’s
amendment by clarifying the definition of cloning so that it is scientifically
accurate and so that it protects all innocent human life. The St. Louis
Post-Dispatch reports
here. Cures Without Cloning must obtain approximately 150,000
signatures in order to place the amendment on the 2008 ballot, but Missouri pro-lifers are
convinced that with the truth on their side they will see human cloning truly
banned in their state.
Some Missouri bloggers
covering this story are Rodney Albert at Press
On and the folks at Missourinet.
UPDATE:
More Missouri
bloggers will be linked here as blog posts on this issue become available:
UPDATE
2: Noted
bioethicist Wesley J. Smith exposes
an incident of media distortion regarding the new Missouri amendment on his
blog.
We can expect similar distortion from many (but not all) major news media
sources concerning the Missouri
anti-cloning movement in the days ahead.
UPDATE 3: David Freddoso at NRO has a
particularly helpful summary in his piece entitled ‘Third
Clone War: Missouri measure would repeal “right to clone”.’
For more
information on human cloning (including helpful diagrams) and the conflicts in Missouri check the
AdvanceUSA Missouri Cloning page.
Also, check the Cures Without Cloning
website.
To listen
to a recording of yesterday’s press conference click
here. To read the text of the new amendment click here
or continue reading.
THE
PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF MISSOURI
Be it
resolved by the people of the state of Missouri
that the Constitution be amended:
One new
section is adopted by adding one new section to be known as Section 38(e) of
Article III, to read as follows:
Section
38(e)
1. It shall be unlawful to clone or attempt to clone a human being. Researchers
may conduct stem cell research to discover cures for disease and develop stem
cell therapies and cures, provided that the research complies with the
limitations of this section and, in addition, the limitations of Section 38(d).
2. For all purposes within this constitution:
1. “Clone or attempt to clone a human being” includes the creation of or the
attempt to create, by means other than fertilization of a human egg with human
sperm, a new human organism that is virtually identical genetically to an
existing or previously existing human organism or human organisms.
2. “Human organism” means human life in any stage. Human life begins with an
initial stage, when a single human egg cell receives a complete set of
forty-six chromosomes, and continues through any subsequent stages of
embryonic, fetal, postnatal, and later development.
3. No taxpayer dollars shall be expended:
1. to clone or attempt to clone a human being; or
2. to research or experiment using a human organism, or any part of a human
organism, derived from cloning or attempting to clone a human being.