Mike Pence: “as the debate over using Federal funds to support embryonic stem cell research goes forwards, I would urge my colleagues…”

“as the debate over using Federal funds to support embryonic stem cell research goes forwards, I would urge my colleagues in this Chamber to consider the clear words of Pope John Paul II spoken to our President today, who said in Rome, ``Experience is already showing how a tragic coarsening of consciences accompanies the assault on innocent life in the womb, leading to the accommodation and acquiescence in the face of other related evils such as euthanasia, infanticide, and, most recently, proposals for the creation for research purposes of human embryos, destined to destruction in the process.'' The Pope went on to say, ``A free and virtuous society which America aspires to be must reject practices that devalue and violate human life at any stage from conception until natural death.'' May we in this Chamber, Madam Speaker, and our President heed the words of this gentle servant of God.”