DeGette Responds To Vatican Bioethics Document

WASHINGTON – U.S Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO), Vice Chair of the Committeeon Energy and Commerce, today responded to the Vatican's release of abioethics document condemning reproductive rights and embryonic stemcell research:

"The Vatican's bioethics document is an extremist agenda for rejectingpersonal reproductive choices. Most Americans strongly oppose the ideathat individuals should not be able to have choices about havingchildren. As stated, the Vatican's position would even deny infertilecouples the joy of having a child through assisted reproduction. WhileI respect the Vatican's right to its opinion, I assert that ethicalembryonic stem cell research has the potential to protect the life ofmillions of patients who suffer from many debilitating diseases."

DeGette is the co-chair of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus and thechief architect of legislation overturning President Bush's August 2001directive restricting embryonic stem cell research. The legislation hasbeen passed twice with strong bipartisan support in both a Republicanand a Democratic Congress only to meet the President's veto twice.