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Last week, the Roman Catholic Church contributed $50,000 to a group opposing California's Proposition 71 initiative, which would amend the state's constitution and borrow $3 billion for embryonic stem cell research.

The state's bishops voted in April to oppose the initiative, according to the California Catholic Conference. "The Catholic Church does not object to scientific research on adult stem cells or blood cord cells—because the donor of the stem cells is not destroyed," the conference's August newsletter states. "The Church opposes the use of embryonic stem cells or cloned stem cells because the donor (embryo or clone) is destroyed by extracting the stem cells."

With their donation, the church joined Doctors, Patients and Taxpayers for Fiscal Responsibility in opposing the proposition, which they say would strain an already cash-strapped state. Combined with another $50,000 donation by Howard Ahmanson Jr., the opposition group has raised about $115,000, according to the Associated Press.

If Wesley J. Smith, a senior fellow at the Seattle-based Discovery Institute, was right when he said, "In California if you have a big enough budget, you can basically buy a law," then the opposition group has its work cut out for it. Supporters of the proposition have about $12 million to spend thanks to donations from venture capitalist William Bowes Jr., Bill Gates, and the support of 22 Nobel laureates.

"Money isn't what we are about," said No on 71 campaign manager Wayne Johnson.

In a state where enough money can recall a governor, opponents are going to need more than cash if they are going to stop the California cloning amendment.

Life ethics:

• Half 'would help loved ones die' | Nearly half of people are ready to break the law to help terminally ill loved ones die, a survey suggests. (BBC)
• Many Britons 'would assist suicide' | The Voluntary Euthanasia Society (VES) published a poll which showed 47 per cent of people said they would help a relative die if they were suffering unbearably. (Daily Telegraph, UK)
• Portuguese ban on abortion ship creates furore over women's rights | Politicians in The Netherlands have condemned the Portuguese government for banning a so-called Dutch "abortion ship" from docking in Portuguese waters. (The Independent, UK)

Gay Republicans won't endorse Bush:

• The losing side of history | The Log Cabin Republicans, an organization for gay and lesbian members of the GOP, announced Tuesday it would not endorse George W. Bush for re-election. They believe that the Bush position was based on a decision by political guru Karl Rove to get out the vote of some 4 million evangelicals who stayed home in 2000. (Debra J. Saunders, San Francisco Chronicle)
• Gay GOP group breaks with Bush on marriage ban | The Republican Party's largest gay and lesbian organization, which endorsed President Bush in 2000, is withholding endorsing Bush for reelection because of his support for a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. (Associated Press)

Religion & politics:

• Christians speak up for gays, civil union | Christians in favour of the Civil Union Bill yesterday took issue with groups who use the Bible to condemn homosexuality, saying the few Sodom and Gomorrah-type references are open to interpretation. (New Zealand Herald, New Zealand)
• Bush official urges locals to volunteer | The are told to 'do something beautiful for God' (Salem Statesman Journal, OR)
• Ex-Bengal Muñoz to be Bush chairman | Former Bengals star Anthony Muñoz will lead the rush for President Bush's re-election in Greater Cincinnati, the Bush campaign announced Wednesday. Muñoz, 46, was named chairman of the Bush campaign's eight-county southwest region. He replaces Hamilton County Prosecutor Mike Allen, who resigned his campaign post last month after acknowledging an extramarital affair with an assistant prosecutor. (Cincinnati Enquirer, OH)

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September (Web-only) 2004, Vol. 48