> Cloning Bill's Hearing Shows How Human Cloning Exploits Women
>
> Washington, DC -- One impact of cloning human embryos for research is the
> physical risk to the women who donate the eggs. A Senate hearing last week
> illuminated the scope of the potential for injury. The people most likely
> to be hurt are the poor.
>
> At the hearing, Richard Doerflinger, with the U.S. Conference of Catholic
> Bishops secretariat for pro-life activities, said those pushing cloning
> technology are not always looking after the best interests of those
> suffering from disease.
>
> "The real victims -- quite often -- of this hype over healing turn out to
> be those who are suffering from those diseases themselves," Doerflinger
> said.
>
> Cloning supporters concede millions of women would be needed to donate
> eggs, if cloning is allowed to proceed.
>
> Jayd Henricks, congressional liaison with the Family Research Council,
> said one expert testified the harvesting process would seriously injure
> one percent of them.
>
> "We're talking about thousands and thousands of women that we know we will
> (be) injured through this procedure," Hendricks said. "And the question
> is, is this something that we want to sanction?"
>
> Pro-life Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS) the Senate sponsor of the Human Cloning
> Prohibition Act of 2003 (S. 245), called for last week's hearing.
>
> "Anytime you put your body through what's called the super-ovulation
> process, there's a certain percentage of women that are going to have
> physical problems or psychological problems," Brownback said.
>
> He also said women would be paid $3,000 to $5,000 each, meaning poor women
> would be the most likely candidates for donation, making their bodies
> manufacturing plants for a hot commodity -- the eggs used to clone human
> embryos for research.
>
> "It's research on humans that have not given their consent, and it's not
> for their benefit," he added.
>
> The Brownback bill would ban all forms of cloning human embryos. He
> emphasized that cloning for research is currently legal in America and is
> under way at several labs. He also said the proposed law is needed because
> it is also legal to pay for women's eggs in order to do research with
> them.
>
> ACTION:  Please contact your senators and urge them to support Sen.
> Brownback's Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2003, S. 245. Also, let your
> senator know that the Brownback legislation is the only bill among several
> competing versions that you support. Emphasize that we need a bill that
> bans all forms of human cloning.
>
> --
> Find pro-life books, materials and merchandise at Life Cycle Books. Go
> to http://www.lifecyclebooks.com
>
>