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 ;

[MAD-AS-HELL]

you equate Hezbollah to the ACLU and MOVEON.ORG? You sir, are quite a nutburger

[Samwise]

That's no Hobbit!

[SuziQ]

Too bad folks don't educate themselves well before throwing their money at causes like this. I think folks get caught up in the emotion of it all, and feel like they want to do something to help the poor people who are suffering from these dread diseases, and the proponents of embryonic stem cell research do nothing if not tug at the heartrings and pursestrings of wealthy folks, guilting them into donating.

[SuziQ]

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.

You must have missed it, Viggo has already made the rounds with his "No Blood for Oil" t-shirt.

[Antoninus]

you equate Hezbollah to the ACLU and MOVEON.ORG? You sir, are quite a nutburger

Why? All these groups hate the Judeo-Christian West and are devoted to our destruction. They are moral equivalents of each other.

I notice you didn't address my point, though. Just took the opportunity to launch a personal attack. I accept your surrender.

[Xenalyte]

How does the author know that the money Jackson and Walsh gave was "Lord of the Rings" money?

It could have been from "King Kong."

[MAD-AS-HELL]

I don't come on here to argue or to debate. If it makes you feel better that you think you won some pointless debate, then go reward yourself with a DQ Blizzard. Have a good one.

[Antoninus]

I don't come on here to argue or to debate.

That much is clear. Your obvious intention is just to display your ignorance and then leave. By all means, don't let me stop you.

[MAD-AS-HELL]