Resources

New: "Why Federal Stem Cell Policy Must Be Expanded" -- A Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Scientific White Paper: August, 2004 

Within the world's religious traditions, there exist diverse perspectives on stem cell research.  Favorable to the research are these thoughtful examinations:

Senator Orrin Hatch's Case in Favor of Stem Cell Research

A Catholic Evaluation of Stem Cell Research

A Jewish Evaluation of Stem Cell Research

Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations Letter to President Bush about Embryonic Stem Cell Research

United Church of Christ Statement on Federal Funding for Embryonic Stem Cell Research

Presbyterian Statement on Stem Cell Research

Islam and Stem Cell Research

Islamic Institute Position on Embryonic Stem Cell Research

Letter from Four Theologians Belonging to the Protestant, Catholic, Jewish and Islamic Faiths

An aim of the "People of Faith for Stem Cell Research" petition campaign is to facilitate education and dialogue in religious communities across the nation.

 We make available: 

1. A list of patient advocates, scientists, and other speakers and discussion facilitators who are willing to visit your community and help its members learn about stem cell research, including its ethical and public policy aspects.
   

2. Documents and audio-video materials that explain the research and help people reflect on ethical issues and public policy.

With over seven thousand signatures on our petition, we have made a good beginning!

Now we need to extend our outreach. Please ask everyone you know to consider signing the petition.  If each one of us gathers at least 20 more signatures -- from family members, friends, and everyone else we can reach -- our petition campaign will be much more effective in communicating our pro-research message to the political leaders of our country and to the American public.

To help you gather signatures, we've posted three printable versions of the petition 
form on our website. You can print out and circulate any one of these versions:

www.pfaith.org/petition.pdf (Adobe Acrobat version)
www.pfaith.org/petition.doc (Word version)
www.pfaith.org/petition.htm (Web version)

After you have obtained written signatures on the printed form, you can then return to this 
website and transfer the information provided by the signers to the signature entry  (www.pfaith.org/entry.htm).  Be sure to ask signers whether they can help us gather more signatures.

Additional advocacy and educational resources are available at:

Stem Cell Action Network
Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research

We find in each faith a rich heritage of teachings and dialogues that have a bearing on the ethical dimensions of new  medical technologies.  It is appropriate that we seek an understanding that is in keeping with the ideals of compassion and respect for human health and flourishing that belong to our diverse religious and secular ethical traditions.

Our resources include not only scientific information, but also presentations and dialogues that draw upon our respective faith traditions to take a look at the ethical questions raised by biomedical research.

If you are interested in setting up a discussion of stem cell research in your community, we will be happy to assist you.