Catholic leaders want limits on stem cell research

The state’s Catholic bishops want to limit state spending on stem cell research to experimenting only with cells that don’t involve the destruction of embryos, the Albuquerque Journal is reporting.

Archbishop Michael Sheehan of Santa Fe and Bishops Ricardo Ramirez of the Diocese of Las Cruces and Donald Pelotte of the Diocese of Gallup met with Richardson on Thursday to share their concerns.

“We very much favor research that helps find cures for diseases, as long as it doesn’t involve the destruction of human life,” the Journal quoted Sheehan as saying.

The governor announced in October that he wants to allocate $10 million over the next three years to fund a stem cell research center at the University of New Mexico. The first phase of that plan – $3.8 million to fund construction of a building and $2.2 million in other funds – is proposed by Richardson in this year’s budget.

The Catholic leaders want Richardson to pledge that research will only be done on stem cells derived from amniotic fluid, babies’ umbilical cords and adult stem cells. Richardson has only said publicly that he will consider the request.