"Creating a new human life solely in order to destroy that life in research for potential benefit to others is especially repugnant and shows profound disrespect for human life...; now, therefore, be it resolved, that the Order recognizes human cloning performed for any purpose is a grave wrong against the inherent dignity of human life and should be rejected; and further resolved, that the Order urge the United States to move to adopt a comprehensive ban on human cloning for any purpose."

The above is part of a resolution adopted by delegates to the 120th Annual Supreme Council meeting of the Knights of Columbus. As such, it is the official statement of the Order on the issue of  human cloning and directs our activities in this regard.

Under the guise of advancing medical progress, advocates of human cloning want to create by cloning new, living human embryos for the sole purpose of destroying them in research. Since surveys show that cloning, for any reason, is strongly opposed by the majority of Americans, cloning advocates try to hide what they are doing. They say they are not involved in cloning at all, but instead support "somatic cell nuclear transfer." This is a deliberate attempt to mislead: somatic cell nuclear transfer is simply the process scientists use to create cloned human embryos. Such cloned human embryos can be transplanted to a woman's womb in an attempt to produce a baby, or they can be used - and destroyed - in research.

The House of Representative has already passed, by an overwhelming bi-partisan majority, a comprehensive ban on human cloning for any reason or purpose.

In the Senate, there are two competing bills. One is S. 303, deceptively named "The Human Cloning Ban and Stem Cell Protection Act of 2003." Contrary to its name, the bill explicitly permits the use of cloning to create human embryos for use in research, provided the embryos are destroyed after 14 days. If this legislation were to pass, it would mark the first time in U.S. history that the law required the destruction of a whole class of human beings. Under this legislation, it would be illegal not to destroy those human lives created by cloning.

In marked contrast, Senate bill S. 245, "The Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2003," provides for a comprehensive ban on human cloning for any reason. It is identical to the bill already passed in the House.

Adult stem cell research provides an ethical and highly promising alternative to human cloning in the effort to cure diseases. Medical progress does not need to come at the expense of destroying some human lives for the potential benefit of others.

Please contact your Senators and urge them to oppose S. 303, and to pass S. 245, the "Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2003."