An interesting contrast appeared in the press today. Melanie Scarborough discussed the miracle baby born in Lousiana after doctors rescued frozen embryos in the aftermath of Katrina. Scarborough wrote:
In truth, one could argue both ways. Obviously, a human embryo allowed to develop will become a human infant. On the other hand, it isn’t quite true that a unique individual is formed at the moment of conception because, at that early stage, the cells can divide and form identical twins or triplets.
While she is totally wrong about the unique individual who is formed at conception due to her lack of understanding of the twinning process, she is making a stale argument that is all too frequently used to dismiss the human embryonic child as merely a "clump of cells."
On the same day that her report appeared, a second report from North Carolina was published, this time quoting Catholic Bishop Peter Jugis, who is opposing efforts in North Carolina's legislature to fund human embryonic stem cell research. In his message to his flock, he said:
These embryos are our brothers and sisters — this is new human life that's begun, even though it's just in the embryonic stage. We were once in the embryonic stage.
Such a contrast! But these two reports are an example of how ccontradictory statements cause the average American to remain in a state of confusion regarding the moral identity of the embryonic child.
What a shame that Scarborough, who is in a responsible position, has to use twisted logic to deny what science clearly tells us about the nature of a human being at is single cell stage.
We should be grateful for leaders like Bishop Jugis who are unafraid of truth and preach it with great joy.
By the way, if you want to read an excellent explanation of how twins or triplets actually do come about, see There is no such thing as a pre-embryo, by C. Ward Kischer, Ph.D.
