In the aftermath of President Obama’s executive order on funding embryonic stem-cell research, Robert P. George (Princeton University) and Douglas Kmiec (Pepperdine Law School) corresponded via email regarding President Obama’s position on human cloning and Kmiec’s statements on this position in an interview with Dan Gilgoff. This exchange has been reproduced in 5 parts by Dan Gilgoff at US News and World Report. A link to each part is provided below.
PART II: Kmiec responds to George, followed by George’s counter-reply
PART III: Kmiec’s letter to Gillgoff, followed by George’s response
PART IV: Kmiec responds to George, followed by George’s counter-reply
PART V: Kmiec offers a final letter on hist statements, followed by George’s concluding reply
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Query to Doug Kmiec:
Suppose scientist X produces three embryos via SCNT, each from the same donor genome. Suppose that X implants the three embryos in a womb. One miscarries at two weeks, the second makes it to term and is born, but the third is removed by X three hours after it is implanted. That third one is then placed back in a petri dish and its stem cells are taken for research purposes, and for that reason it dies. How many cloned human beings are in this story?
My guess is three human beings are in the story I just read the clear and honest emails from Professor George and feel very thankful for his educated and challenging responses about a moral problem. I also just read the confusing and ambiguous emails from Professor Kmiec and feel sad that he ignored the clear statements from Prof. George. I admire the prudent suggestion of a debate for Kmiec with all expenses paid. Prudent, since a debate would prevent future problems. When reflecting on Prof. George’s emails, I remember the counsel of St. Thomas in his Commentary on St. John: “Good zeal is a fervor of spirit… He is consumed by it who takes steps to correct any perversity he sees. And if he cannot, he tolerates it with sadness” (1980: 126).
Three.
Like other prominenet Catholics in academia who supported Obama, Mr. Kmiec has too much emotionally invested in the guy to ever come to his senses.
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