Let me say this from the start. I think abortion is wrong. I'm a Catholic, but I have my own reasons for thinking abortion is wrong, not simply because I've been told to think that way. On the other hand, I believe that there are times when abortion is the only reasonable alternative available to a woman. In those situations, the woman's culpability is lessened or completely absent. I think St. Thomas Aquinas would agree with me.

I have seen no evidence that anyone has performed an abortion for the purpose of obtaining stem cells. I would be appalled if such a thing would happen. But if the abortion is performed for other reasons, I would see good in making use of the stem cells for medical research. Still, if there are workable alternatives like using stem cells from umbilical cords, I'd prefer to see that. I suppose some bishops and a huge number of Catholic anti-abortion zealots would like to excommunicate me from the Catholic Church for saying this, but such is life. St. Thomas Aquinas will back me up.

In this polarized world of ours, the standard operating policy is to jump into a hole on one side of the fence or another, and to not dare to look for common ground.

That's too bad, isn't it?

-Joe-