c. 2003 Religion News Service

Majority of Americans Say Embryonic Stem Cell Research Morally OK

(RNS) Slightly more than half of Americans surveyed say they view stem cell research involving human embryos to be morally acceptable, a Gallup Poll has found.

Surveyed in May, 54 percent of Americans said “medical research using stem cells obtained from human embryos” is morally acceptable while 38 percent said such studies are morally wrong.

Some scientists have said such research could lead to cures and treatments for such illnesses as Parkinson’s disease and diabetes, but opponents to the research say human embryos should not be used for such purposes.

There are stronger divisions on the research depending on people’s position on abortion.

Seventy-one percent of those who support abortion rights say such stem cell research is morally acceptable, while 38 percent of those with anti-abortion views agree with that view.

Researchers also compared church attendance to viewpoints on stem cell research. Thirty-eight percent of those who attend church weekly said such research was morally acceptable, compared to 56 percent who attend church almost weekly and 67 percent of those who seldom or never attend.

The survey results are based on telephone interviews with 1,005 adults nationwide May 5-7. They have a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

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Following is suitable for a graphic:

_ Medical research using stem cells obtained from human embryos

Morally acceptable: 54 percent

Morally wrong: 38 percent

_ Moral acceptability of stem cell research, based on abortion views:

Abortion-rights supporters: 71 percent

Abortion opponents: 38 percent

_ Moral acceptability of stem cell research, based on church attendance:

Attend weekly: 38 percent

Attend nearly weekly: 56 percent

Seldom/never attend: 67 percent

(Source: The Gallup Organization)

_ Adelle M. Banks

Liberian Peacekeepers Buoy Aid Groups

(RNS) As the arrival of West African peacekeeping forces and the first U.S. Marines marks a step toward ending two months of bloody conflict in Liberia’s capital of Monrovia, Christian aid organizations are responding to reports of widespread starvation and disease in the city.

“We are heartened by the arrival of the first stabilization force and hope this will finally allow the safe flow of humanitarian aid in the country,” John McCullough, executive director of Church World Service, said in a statement. The humanitarian agency is made up of 36 Anglican, Protestant and Orthodox denominations.

Humanitarian agencies estimate that all of Liberia’s 3 million people will need emergency assistance in coming months. The situation in the capital is growing increasingly dire as fighting splits Monrovia into rebel and government sides.

Through partnerships with the Liberian Council of Churches and the YMCA of Liberia, Church World Service will ship and distribute 5,000 health kits, 20 tons of canned meat, 5,000 blankets and medical supplies to treat 10,000 people for three months.

Other Christian humanitarian agencies are also responding to the crisis. Lutheran World Relief has sent 132 tons of aid in the form of blankets, medical supplies and clothing. But larger supplies of food, water and blankets are still desperately needed, the agency said.

“All of Monrovia is generally displaced,” Charles Pitchford of the Lutheran World Federation said in a statement. “All civilian members of Liberian society, high and low, need humanitarian assistance … with very few exceptions.”

Meanwhile, Liberian President Charles Taylor hasn’t relaxed his grip on power despite his repeated promises to step down. Fighting between Taylor’s government and rebel forces has devastated the capital, killing well over 1,000 people and spreading hunger and epidemics among Monrovia’s 1.3 million residents and refugees.

– Alexandra Alter

Argentine Priest Accused of Rights Abuses Arrested

(RNS) An Argentine priest accused of committing human rights abuses while serving as police force chaplain under Argentina’s military regime was arrested after refusing to testify in court.

The Rev. Christian von Wernich, a Roman Catholic priest accused of aiding the torture of opposition figures during a 1976-1983 dictatorship, was detained by police Wednesday (Aug. 6).

His detention renews controversy over the role of the Roman Catholic Church during Argentina’s “Dirty War” against leftists in the 1970s, which left 30,000 dead or missing.

Victims said von Wernich tried to become their confidant and then encouraged them to cooperate with their torturers, Alicia Peralta told Reuters. Peralta is a lawyer for the Permanent Assembly of Human Rights, which is representing many of the victims’ families.

“Part of the accusation is for extracting information from detainees to make them `pay for their sins,”’ Peralta said.

Current Argentine amnesty laws exempt members of the country’s former military regime from prosecution, but Argentine President Nestor Kirchner recently signed an order allowing them to be tried abroad.

Lawyers said that amnesty laws may not apply to priests, however, Reuters reported.

English Village Parish Comes to Aid of Embattled Post Office

LONDON (RNS) A Church of England parish has come to the rescue of a village in danger of losing its post office.

In the village of Hemingford Grey, 12 miles northwest of Cambridge, the 70-year-old postmaster announced his retirement, but no one came forward to take over from him. The village has quite a high proportion of elderly residents as well as a considerable number of mothers with small children.

Both groups would be hard pressed to walk the two miles (or drive four) to the nearest alternative post office in the town of St. Ives.

Then the parish of St. James stepped in. The parish administrator, 43-year-old David Usher, said he will add the job of postmaster to his other duties of running the parish center and taking the administrative burdens off the vicar, the Rev. Peter Cunliffe.

The post office will move to the parish center and be open six days a week.

Recently the Church of Scotland’s Church and Nation committee drew attention to the damaging effect on village life when the local post office closes.

_ Robert Nowell

Quote of the Day: Bishop Wilton Gregory, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

(RNS) “The laity is building up God’s kingdom in this human dwelling place. We cannot fail to proclaim with joy the greatness of so much service in a selfless, unsullied manner.”

_ Bishop Wilton Gregory of Belleville, Ill., praising the lay contribution to the church in a speech to the Knights of Columbus fraternal organization on Aug. 5.

DEA END RNS