Heart Assn. Withdraws From Embryo Research

Re “Heart Assn. Chills Embryo Cell Studies,” June 21: In its decision to lean on the American Heart Assn. to stop embryo cell research for heart disease, cancer and other life-threatening illnesses, the Catholic Church has revived its centuries-long tradition of throwing roadblocks in front of scientific advancements. This regrettable policy--felt by the likes of Galileo and Copernicus--will probably result in the unnecessarily premature deaths of countless of our fellow citizens.

It is also regrettable that the American Heart Assn. doesn’t have the courage to disagree with the Catholic Church and those who place dogma over progress. If religious organizations were allowed to dictate the direction cutting-edge science takes, we’d still think the sun revolved around a flat Earth.

I hope the American Heart Assn. will realize that its job is to treat and try to eradicate heart disease. If using embryo cells from legal abortions will speed that process, so be it.

James Underdown

Los Angeles