Lord of the Rings Profits Used to Support Embryonic Stem Cell Research

LifeSiteNews ^ | 7/16/06 | Gudrun Schultz

[wagglebee]

 WELLINGTON, New Zealand, July 17, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Profits from the Lord of the Rings film trilogy are being used to fund destructive human embryonic research at the University of California, reported the Mainichi Daily News.

Filmmakers Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh, who brought the J.R.R. Tolkien epic to the screen, together donated US $310,000 last Saturday to fund research using the stem cells of human embryos.

“Stem cell therapy has the potential to treat a multitude of diseases and illnesses which up until now have been labelled ‘incurable,’” the pair said in a statement released by the University of California.

“Continuing advances in stem cell medicine will change all of our lives for the better.”

Despite such assumptions, research using human embryonic stem cells has so far been unsuccessful. All of the breakthroughs using stem cells for medical therapy have so far been found through the use of adult stem cells—cells obtained directly from the individual in need of therapy and used successfully to treat a growing list of serious illnesses.

Embryonic stem cell research has received international criticism, including disapproval by the US government, because the research involves the killing of human embryos in the very earliest stages of development. The Catholic Church, in particular, has condemned any research that involves the use or destruction of the human embryo as intrinsically immoral.

Ironically, despite the undercurrent of traditional morality that forms the foundation of The Lord of the Rings trilogy—Tolkien was a devout Roman Catholic—the film has been used as a springboard to promote policies in direct opposition to Catholic teaching.

British actor Ian McKellen, who portrayed the wizard Gandalf in the film, has used the international recognition generated by the film to further his promotion of homosexuality, campaigning for homosexual “marriage” in Britain.

See previous LifeSiteNews coverage:

Lord of the Rings Star Using Fame from Film to Promote Homosexual "Marriage"
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2006/may/06050409.html ;

[USA Girl]

There are only two reasons anyone would support embryonic stem-cell research: either the person is woefully stupid and ignorant or he is evil.

Why? Because adult-cell research has been shown to be superior. http://ncfamily.org/PolicyPapers/Findings%200501-StemCells.pdf

I am disgusted with these filmmakers. They used the godly man Tolkien to advance an ungodly agenda through the film proceeds.

[Rocko]

Tolkien is spinning in his grave.

[Old Student]

"And yet this news is basically ignored."

And why would that be? Maybe because it doesn't fit the agenda? Babies are expensive and a nuisance, but they can be useful! Have more of them because you can't be bothered to protect yourself from an unwanted pregnancy, and we'll help you get yourself out of that hole you've dug yourself! (and be able to make megabucks from your aborted baby, too!)

No sarcasm tag because I think it's way too thinly veiled to be needed.

[gondramB]

>>Profits from the Lord of the Rings film trilogy are being used to fund destructive human embryonic research at the University of California, reported the Mainichi Daily Ne<<

I know this is a deadly serious topic...
But nonetheless I cant think about this debate on Southpark where Christoffer Reeves comes to town and is getting his stem cells by biting the heads of fetuses.

Graphic. Very graphic but it made the point.

[kittycatonline.com]

WELLINGTON, New Zealand, July 17, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Profits from the Lord of the Rings film trilogy are being used to fund destructive human embryonic research at the University of California, reported the Mainichi Daily News... British actor Ian McKellen, who portrayed the wizard Gandalf in the film, has used the international recognition generated by the film to further his promotion of homosexuality, campaigning for homosexual “marriage” in Britain.

Liberal Hollywood at it's weird finest. Movie profits used to kill the unborn. Movie star who must be what, 60 years old, promotes the gay lifestyle. All they need for the trifecta is to get Elija Wood to hold up a "Cindy Sheehan for President" sign on the cover of the Enquirer.

[CharlesWayneCT]

I claim misleading headline. The profits from the movie are not being given to support research. At best, some of the gross from the movie is being paid to people who are then taking some of their money and giving it to the research.

anyway, how do you know it isn't money Jackson is making from the King Kong movie?

[plain talk]

Right. People are free to donate their money how they wish. It would appear most of Hollywood and film-makers and artists in general tend to lean left so most of them are likely to donate to causes we would not like. So what else is new?

[LibertarianInExile]

"Liberal Hollywood at it's weird finest. Movie profits used to kill the unborn. Movie star who must be what, 60 years old, promotes the gay lifestyle. All they need for the trifecta is to get Elija Wood to hold up a "Cindy Sheehan for President" sign on the cover of the Enquirer."

They already made the last 20 minutes of the Return of the King about as queer as you can get. An awful ending to a phenomenal trilogy.

[cpforlife.org]

Pro-Life PING

Please FreepMail me if you want on or off my Pro-Life Ping List.

[Tolkien]

I guess it's my duty to give them a call.

[Jonah Hex]

That's no hobbit, that's a Balrog!!

[AppyPappy]

ping

[mware]

agreed suzy. Adult stem cells have been used in clinical studies and is used in over 79 specific injuries, illnesses, birth defects.

If and only if federal monies are going to be used, they should be used for procedures that can actually save people.

[AppyPappy]

“Stem cell therapy has the potential to treat a multitude of diseases and illnesses which up until now have been labelled ‘incurable,’” the pair said in a statement released by the University of California. “Continuing advances in stem cell medicine will change all of our lives for the better.”

Oddly, embryonic stem cells are not mentioned by them. It is inferred by the reporter.

[mware]

Adult Stem Cells Embryonic Stem Cells
Cancers:

Brain Cancer
Retinoblastoma
Ovarian Cancer
Skin Cancer: Merkel Cell Carcinoma
Testicular Cancer
Tumors abdominal organs Lymphoma
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Acute Myelogenous Leukemia
Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia
Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia
Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia
Cancer of the lymph nodes: Angioimmunoblastic Lymphadenopathy
Multiple Myeloma
Myelodysplasia
Breast Cancer
Neuroblastoma
Renal Cell Carcinoma
Various Solid Tumors
Soft Tissue Sarcoma
Ewing’s Sarcoma
Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia
Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis
POEMS syndrome
Myelofibrosis
Auto-Immune Diseases

Systemic Lupus
Sjogren’s Syndrome
Myasthenia
Autoimmune Cytopenia
Scleromyxedema
Scleroderma
Crohn’s Disease
Behcet’s Disease
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Juvenile Arthritis
Multiple Sclerosis
Polychondritis
Systemic Vasculitis
Alopecia Universalis
Buerger’s Disease
Cardiovascular

Acute Heart Damage
Chronic Coronary Artery Disease
Ocular

Corneal regeneration
Immunodeficiencies

Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Syndrome
X-linked Lymphoproliferative Syndrome
X-linked Hyper immunoglobulin M Syndrome
Neural Degenerative Diseases and Injuries

Parkinson’s Disease
Spinal Cord Injury
Stroke Damage
Anemias and Other Blood Conditions

Sickle Cell Anemia
Sideroblastic Anemia
Aplastic Anemia
Red Cell Aplasia
Amegakaryocytic Thrombocytopenia
Thalassemia
Primary Amyloidosis
Diamond Blackfan Anemia
Fanconi’s Anemia
Chronic Epstein-Barr Infection
Wounds and Injuries

Limb Gangrene
Surface Wound Healing
Jawbone Replacement
Skull Bone Repair
Other Metabolic Disorders

Hurler’s Syndrome
Osteogenesis Imperfecta
Krabbe Leukodystrophy
Osteopetrosis
Cerebral X-Linked Adrenoleukodystrophy
Liver Disease

Chronic Liver Failure
Liver Cirrhosis
Bladder Disease

End-Stage Bladder Disease

[mware]

The embryonic stem cell research as zero clinical uses.

[avg_freeper]

"It's their money so more power to them for doing so. More people should do that here instead of funding it with tax payer money. Are we now like commie libs who want to control what people do with their own money?"

Implying that activities are above being questioned simply because they're not tax funded is idiotic.

I guess we are to be like commies who first must check with the state to determine just whom we may criticize.

[Antoninus]

It's their money so more power to them for doing so.

Would you feel the same way if they were funding Hezbollah, the ACLU, or MoveOn.org? Yes, they have a right to expend their resources as they see fit. But they have no right to our praise for doing so. They deserve only scorn.