Human Embryos Not Necessary for Stem Cell Experiments 
A team of Swedish researchers have discovered the site in the human brain that is the source of stem cells, those cells that can give rise to all types of cells in the central nervous system. Because such cells are self-renewing and give rise to a variety of cells, including nerve cells, they may have the potential to be used for treating neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, or even spinal cord injury. The findings were published in the January 8th issue of the journal Cell. (Reuters, 1/8/99) Numerous articles have appeared recently that indicate the presence of stem cells in various parts of the body. These cells are apparently no less useful than human embryonic stem cells for experiments in potential organ growth for transplant purposes. Yet, the National Institutes of Health director, Dr. Harold Varmus, has said NIH will begin experiments, funded by the taxpayers, on stem cells “harvested” by killing human embryos. Congress must say NO to this, NOW!

California Governor Declared “Automatically Excommunicated” by Catholic Priest 
Catholic Democrat Gray Davis, the newly-elected Governor of California, is expected to be the most extreme pro-abortion governor in California history, according to pro-life Californians who sent us the following report.

On Thursday, December 24, 1998 Monsignor Edward Kavanagh, Pastor of St. Rose’s Catholic Church in Sacramento, CA, received an invitation from Rabbi Brad L. Bloom, President of the Sacramento Interfaith Service Bureau, inviting him to join Gray Davis at an Ecumenical Service on Sunday, January 3, 1999, to begin Davis’ inauguration with “prayer and celebration.” Monsignor Kavanagh responded to the invitation with a letter in which he pointed out that Governor Davis’ pro-abortion stance had brought automatic excommunication upon himself. He said that it “would betray and scandalize the faithful” for a Catholic priest to attend this political function “dedicated to a leader of the American Holocaust.” Our thanks to Monsignor Kavanagh for calling public attention to the truth that any politician who supports a mother’s right to kill her baby is an accessory to every abortion committed. For Catholics, a position in support of legal abortion, for any reason, results in automatic excommunication from the Church. Congressman Bliley Calls National Cancer Institute to Account on Abortion/Breast Cancer Link