As many Catholics know, the upcoming Nov. 7 election has a frightening amendment on the ballot (#2). It's not only scary because it is all about cloning embroyos for research, but it also gives anyone desiring to clone a blank check (of MO tax-payer dollars) for completely unregulated research. The amendment is called a BAN on cloning. So our aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents are walking into the polls to read "Vote Yes to Ban Cloning", when a yes vote actually funds cloning. Frightening. Private research groups around the world are looking at our vote to see if they can move into MO and gain all the money they want to clone and kill millions of humans. We at REAP are very scared.
The truth, however, is that voting "NO" does not mean you don't want cures. In fact, voting NO allows us to invest more in adult stem cell research - a process where no one dies and where treatments are rapidly being found. Embryonic stem cell research has NO treatments - and people have been trying with this method for years. If you want real cures, vote NO so we can encourage ADULT stem cell research - the one making the difference AND we can protect the lives of innocent humans from cloning and destruction.
If you want more information on the Amendment, please see the podcast and websites at the bottom of this page.
Teens & Adults - Will you help? Will you take THE HANDOUT CHALLENGE?
Whether you're of voting age or not, we encourage people to print out at least 5 - 10 copies of the following handout. Please pass on these handouts to either your parents, relatives or neighbors. Also, if you find people are already informed and plan to vote "no", ask them if they can give a couple handouts to co-workers or other friends. The next two Saturdays, consider going door-to-door, asking neighbors if they have any questions while giving them a handout. Adults are ALWAYS impressed by teens trying to make a difference.
Print and Pass these fliers around - Paraplegic seeks cure, but not with Amendment 2
Need Copies? Lastly, if you don't have printer or the money to print out a lot of handouts, but you would have the time and ability to pass out handouts, send Heather an email (heather@reapteam.org) with your home address and how many handouts you'd like. She'll mail to you as many as she can. REAP does not have funds to make copies, so if anyone would like to donate some funds to make these copies available, please contact us right away. We're scraping up money anywhere we can find to make sure any willing teen has enough copies to spread the word.
PODCAST FROM REAP
A podcast/audio file has been published which is an interview I did with Jennifer Brinker (from the St. Louis Review newspaper) and Molly McCann (a 17 year old young woman) on the Stem Cell Initiative. You can check it out here.
We believe that this interview format is very user-friendly and easily understandable, especially for teens but even for adults. If you have any ways to promote awareness of this audio file, that would be great. Perhaps you could link it on your parish/school/ministry website or mention it in an upcoming newsletter?
We think it is an exciting way to get this message out there in another format to a whole new audience.
Classroom Usage
Some ideas - yesterday I was at a Religious Education Institute and I spoke with some teachers who are considering using this resource in their classrooms - either listening to the audio file in class, encouraging their students to listen, and one might even dowload the file and burn it onto CDs for their students to listen to. There is a chance that if students are made aware of this file they might download it to their Ipods and even check out some of our other podcasts some day.
Excellent Websites
Missouri Round Table for Life - Site includes the text of the Amendment as well as a line-by-line analysis.
Stem Cell Hoax Movie (takes about one minute total)
Commercial of Jeff Suppan, Jim Caveziel, Patricia Heaton and Kurt Warner
Women's Voices Against Cloning
Missourians Against Human Cloning
St. Louis Respect Life Apostolate
Also, to view some awesome and highly informative videos with Fr. Tad called "Cutting Through the Spin", go here (requires Real Player) or you can view another video from Fr. Tad here (requires Quicktime).
Prayer for Defeat of Amendment 2
O Most Blessed Mother, heart of love, heart of mercy, ever listening, caring, consoling, hear our prayer. As your children, we implore your intercession with Jesus your Son. Receive with understanding and compassion the petitions we place before you today, especially that the state of Missouri, defeats Amendment 2 this coming election.
We are comforted in knowing your heart is ever open to those who ask for your prayer. We trust to your gentle care and intercession, those whom we love and who are sick or lonely or hurting. Help all of us, Holy Mother, to bear our burdens in this life until we may share eternal life and peace with God forever.
Amen.