ST. LOUIS — Missouri Roman Catholics who attend Mass today can expect to hear a homily against embryonic stem-cell research and a statewide petition drive aimed at allowing Missourians to vote on a constitutional amendment to protect the research.
The Catholic church is using the first Sunday of Advent to launch a campaign aimed at keeping Catholics from signing the petition.
The Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures, which includes business interests, universities and patient groups, announced the petition in October, and has already begun airing advertisements.
The Catholic church believes embryonic stem-cell research destroys human life and is therefore akin to abortion. Church leaders, however, say they support adult stem-cell research. Earlier this month, bishops in the St. Louis area decided to direct priests to convey the church’s position today.