We concede, as we’re sure the governor does, that embryonic stem cell research, despite its potential to relieve human suffering, poses a serious problem for some religious leaders and other Americans. They argue that because the research requires the destruction of embryos, it is wrong because a human life is sacrificed. We also believe that Archbishop Dolan and Bishop Morlino, as religious leaders, have every right to tell the governor they believe his position is wrong and ask him to reverse course. By no means does that violate the separation of church and state.
But we come down on the side of the governor. As he noted, the embryos involved are from unused fertilized embryos from fertility clinics that would otherwise be discarded.