Youth Defence get packed house in UCC

national | miscellaneous | press release Wednesday February 18, 2009 21:18 by Helen T

There was standing room only in UCC last night as Dr David Prentice and Wesley Smith addressed a seminar on embryonic stem cell research. Although UCC academics who had supported the proposal to introduce embryonic stem cell research were asked to debate, they didn't seem up to the challenge.

More than 300 people heard from Dr David Prentice, an internationally recognized expert in stem cell research who tracks the success of adult stem cell treatments across the world. Last year the prestigious magazine Science published his work in this area. He was joined by Wesley Smith, a renowned ethicist who is a lively and much-sought after debater and commentator on many life issues. Last night, Mr Smith received sustained applause when he told a packed theatre in UCC that embarking on embryonic stem cell research would degrade the university.

MCKENNA VS PRENTICE - THE DEBATE ON EMBRYO RESEARCH HITS MAYNOOTH

PACKED THEATRE IN UCC HEARS THAT UCC SHOULD DO CORK PROUD BY REJECTING EMBRYO RESEARCH AND BECOMING CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE FOR ADULT STEM CELL RESEARCH.

February 18th, JH3 theatre, NUIM, 7pm: a major debate on embryonic stem cell research in Ireland. This evening, stem cell expert Dr David Prentice will debate the former master of the Rotunda, Dr Peter McKenna, on the ethics of embryo research. It is expected to be a lively and well-attended event, with a sharp clash of views on the humanity and right-to-life of the human embryo.

Dr David Prentice is an internationally recognized expert in stem cell research who tracks the success of adult stem cell treatments across the world. Last year the prestigious magazine Science published his work in this area. Dr Peter McKenna is Vice-Chair of the Irish Council for Bio-ethics, and was formerly the master of the Rotunda maternity hospital.

Dr Prentice is visiting Ireland as a guest of pro-life group Youth Defence who are co-hosting the event in Maynooth as part of a wider campaign raising public awareness about embryo research. “Dr Prentice explains clearly, and in layman’s terms, why adult stem cells are producing successful medical treatments for conditions ranging from spinal cord injuries to cancer,” said Youth Defence. “This is the good news about ethical stem cell research that the public needs to hear. But what the public also deserves to hear are the facts about embryonic stem cell research – that it destroys human life and offers no cures.”

Drs Prentice and McKenna will be joined tonight by Wesley Smith, a fiery and passionate ethicist who is a lively and much-sought after debater and commentator on many life issues. Last night, Mr Smith received sustained applause when he told a packed theatre in UCC that embarking on embryonic stem cell research would degrade the university.

Members of the UCC governing body who last October approved a proposal to begin research on stem cells obtained by destroying human embryos, refused to take part in the UCC debate, while Dr Deirdre Madden who made the proposal to the governing body, was also unwilling to debate the issue with Dr Prentice and Mr Smith. Youth Defence said that the refusal to debate such an important proposal was “telling”, and that “the public deserved to know why UCC’s governing body wanted to spend taxpayer funds on lethal embryonic stem cell research.”

In that context both Prentice and Smith last night had a special message for University College Cork: “Don’t waste taxpayer’s funds on destroying embryos. Instead, do Cork proud by becoming a centre of excellence for ethical adult stem cell research.”

Sixty-four billboards were launched by Youth Defence last week as part of a campaign which hopes to swamp Cork with information raising public awareness regarding lethal research on human embryos, and seeks to involve the public in opposing the proposed research in UCC.

The campaign also involves a new and comprehensive information and lobbying leaflet, information seminars in UCC, Maynooth and Dublin, a door-to-door canvass to encourage lobbying, a drive to facilitate alumni who wish to register their protests, regular information stands, a new information-packed website, and more. Its core messages are that the human embryo is deserving of full protection; that research on human embryos has not produced one cure; and that treatments for more than 70 medical conditions have been successfully developed using adult stem cells.