New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms (NYCF) opposed this legislation because the specific language allowed embryonic stem cell research (ESCR) that many New Yorkers oppose and it remained silent on somatic cell nuclear transfer (more commonly referred to as human cloning).

The churches NYCF represents are not opposed to adult, amniotic, cord blood or induced pluripotent stem cell research, but they remain opposed to embryonic stem cell research and human cloning because it always creates human life with the express intention of destroying it for medical research purposes.

In addition to the moral argument, there is a fiscal argument to be made against ESCR. After decades of studies, ESCR has failed to produce even one successful human treatment or any major success in animal models.

Adult stem cells, however, have effectively treated human patients suffering from more than seventy diseases including multiple sclerosis, lupus, arthritis, various cancers, sickle cell anemia, spinal cord injury, heart damage and juvenile diabetes.[1] Adult stem cells are also being used to form new cartilage and ligaments allowing people to walk or to grow new corneas restoring sight to the blind.  There are over 2,000 FDA-approved clinical trials going on in the United State using adult stem cells.[2]

It is conservatively estimated that New York State faces a $10 Billion deficit for the 2011-2012 fiscal year. NYCF believes that any proposed stem cell research funding would be far better directed toward other areas (such as hospitals or education). But at the least, stem cell funding should be limited toward the promising reality seen in adult stem cell research. If New York insists on funding stem cell research, taxpayer dollars should be funding scientifically-verifiable success.

NYCF believes that any public funding for stem cell research MUST be specifically stated for “non-embryonic” purposes, and must include a complete ban on all human cloning—both reproductive and therapeutic.