Memo to Religious Fellow Citizens: Please Get Out of My Way

Years ago, an elderly Greek woman, the widow of a Greek priest, asked me why I didn't go to church. Before I could answer, she said, "It's nice to go to church." That's the simplest and best reason I've ever heard for going to church. For some people -- it's nice.

I can't remember exactly what I said to her -- how I talked my way out of the situation without saying what I wanted to say: I think it's nice not to go to church.

I remembered this when I read in the papers today that researchers have, for the first time, made stem cells from an adult primate -- a rhesus monkey. It's the same trick used to clone Dolly the sheep a decade ago. But until now, nobody had been able to do it in primates. If the trick can be carried over to humans, which seems likely, it could open the door to new kinds of research on cancer, degenerative brain diseases, and psychiatric ailments.

Our religions fellow citizens, however, aren't going to like it. And if they had their way, the research would stop right here -- or it would never have come this far.

I'm perfectly happy to live in a country where most people believe in God. It's fine with me if they believe that a certain kind of microscopic cell is morally equivalent to a human being. If Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue wants to hold a prayer vigil to ask God for rain, as he did Tuesday, be my guest.

Hey, I'm easy. Believe what you like. Go to church if you think it's nice. Just don't get in my way if I'm headed somewhere else.

It's been about 15 years since scientists began to isolate human stem cells, opening up transformational opportunities in the treatment of disease, the production of organs for transplant, and other medical wonders. While the early claims clearly promised too much too soon, there is little doubt that one day these things will come to pass.

But thanks to our religions fellow citizens, it's going to take a lot longer than it should.

That's because many scientists who once worked on potential miracle cures are now trying to make stem cells from adult cells. There is a limitless supply of stem cells from embryos. But with minor exceptions, federally funded labs can't legally touch them. So researchers look for adult stem cells to get around the funding ban.

If our religious fellow citizens think it's wrong to study embryonic cells, I don't need to know their reasons. I accept their belief. They're entitled to it. But don't get in the way of me and others like me who think this research should proceed on the basis of its scientific merit -- not on the basis of somebody's beliefs.

They're getting in my way, and I don't like it. And President Bush, our fellow religious citizen-in-chief, gets in my way more than the rest.

Bush's first address to the nation as president came in August, 2001, more than half a year into his presidency. He chose that address to condemn embryonic cell research. (Aren't you nostalgic? A time when something besides the "war on terror" justified an address to the nation.) He said he would not allow federal funding for any but a handful of stem cell lines that were already in existence at the time. To do otherwise would violate his moral values.

Those are not my moral values. But I guess I'm stuck living with the president's moral values. And that's getting in my way. My body parts haven't started failing or falling off yet, but I'd like to have some alternatives when they do. Stem cell research might give me those options.

So get the heck out of my way -- let me follow my own moral values; don't make me follow yours.

Yes, a few states are funding embryonic stem cell research, but it takes years to fund, house, and staff new research institutions. We're losing time.

Memo to my fellow religious citizens: If you like going to church, go to church. Believe as you choose.

But extend the same courtesy to me. If you don't like embryonic stem-cell research, don't do it. But please don't get in my way if I want to do it or see it done. If I favor a water-conservation plan over praying for rain, let me believe as I choose.

Please: just get out of my way.