Contact: Patrick Korten, Knights of Columbus, 203-752-4474

NEW HAVEN, Conn., July 19 /Christian Newswire/ -- Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson today thanked President Bush for vetoing H.R. 810, the so-called "Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act," which would, for the very first time, provide federal funds for research in which human embryos are destroyed.

"This stem cell bill is eminently worthy of President Bush's first veto," Anderson said. "It would provide federal funding for the very first time for research involving the deliberate destruction of living human embryos, a practice that is terribly wrong. It is profoundly immoral to create human life in order to destroy it, whatever the theoretical benefit might be. Actual benefits from stem cell research have thus far come entirely from ethical research on adult stem cells, which has produced dozens of successful therapies for a variety of diseases."

"Every human life, no matter how small, should be protected in law. Unfortunately, in America the destruction of unborn human life is perfectly legal, whether in a laboratory or in an abortion clinic," Anderson continued. "This bill would add insult to injury by forcing the taxpayers to pay for the destruction, and that is unconscionable."

Anderson concluded, "President Bush has done the right thing in vetoing this measure, and it appears that his veto will not be overridden. The Knights of Columbus, one of the largest pro-life organizations in the world, appreciates the President's action, and calls upon members of Congress to focus on stem cell research that does not violate basic human dignity."

The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest lay Catholic organization, with more than 1.7 million members in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Central America, the Philippines and Poland. Last year it donated more than 139 million and 64 million volunteer hours to charity.