Pastor at Blunt's church differs with him on therapeutic cloning

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Pastor at Blunt's church differs with him on therapeutic cloning

By Josh Flory, The Columbia Daily Tribune, April 22, 2006

As a pastor in southwest Missouri, John Marshall is one voice among many in the state's debate over therapeutic cloning.

But as the pastor of Gov. Matt Blunt's home church, Second Baptist in Springfield, Marshall is in a unique position to speak with power - which makes his break with Blunt on therapeutic cloning particularly interesting.

The disagreement centers on a cloning procedure called somatic cell nuclear transfer, which is used to create embryonic stem cells. Many scientists think those cells could help researchers find cures for afflictions such as spinal cord injuries and Parkinson's disease.

The problem is that taking the stem cells destroys the embryo. That's one reason many abortion opponents are opposed to the procedure.

The dispute has sparked a high-stakes debate in Jefferson City, where business interests and scientists have advocated the research while anti-abortion groups have pushed for a ban.

It will heat up further this fall. Supporters of therapeutic cloning are gathering signatures for a proposed amendment to the Missouri Constitution aimed at protecting the procedure. The amendment - which could be on the ballot in November - would allow the creation of a cloned embryo for stem cells but ban implanting that embryo in a uterus.

Blunt, who opposes abortion, supports the proposed amendment and therapeutic cloning. Specifically, the governor says the procedure doesn't create human life because no sperm is involved.

Marshall, who spoke at a prayer service before the governor's inauguration in 2005, took a different view. In an article posted on the church Web site, the pastor wrote, "It is playing with words to say" the "accumulation of human cells is not an embryo, and thus not human life."

He went on to describe the benefits of research with adult stem cells - which can be obtained without destroying an embryo - and asked why embryonic stem cell research is being pushed so heavily despite the promise of adult stem cells.

"A spiritual battle is no doubt a component in this debate," he added.

The Pathway, a newspaper published by the Missouri Baptist Convention, highlighted Marshall's article in its April 4 edition.

Marshall could not be reached for comment, but he told The Pathway that he consulted with six scientifically minded church members before compiling the article. According to The Pathway, one of the six agreed with the governor's position, but Marshall chose to "write for the majority" in his article.

"Our church is strongly pro-life," he told The Pathway. "We feel that embryonic stem cell research is a pro-life issue. It's a taking of life."

A spokeswoman for Blunt said the governor has discussed the issue with many scientific and religious leaders and supports the proposed amendment to set parameters on what research should be legal.

The spokeswoman, Jessica Robinson, said the governor is a Christian.

"He believes in the power of prayer, and he's encouraged Christians to prayerfully consider their own belief," she added.

The governor has a delicate relationship with the Missouri Baptist Convention. Last year, he outlined his position at the denomination's annual meeting. The Pathway, meanwhile, has played host to competing columns written by Blunt and a lobbyist for Missouri Right to Life in the wake of a dispute over abortion legislation.

And last November, The Pathway's editor wrote a column about cloning that had this headline: "A governor, his state headed for political Armageddon."

Kerry Messer, a lobbyist who represents the denomination's Christian Life Commission, said the two sides have an "open and frank relationship," and "we appreciate the bulk of what" Blunt "does."

As for the cloning issue, Messer said, the disagreement is no secret.

"In our minds, it reminds us that we need to be in prayer for him just like we do anybody else," he said. "And the fact that he is a member with us doesn't mean that we're just automatically going to agree. Nor does it mean that we're going to roll over when we don't agree."

Blunt is certainly mindful that religious conservatives are a crucial pillar of the Republican base in Missouri and across the country. That's a major incentive for him to maintain communications with the convention and other religious groups despite their disagreement over cloning.

But in another sense, the governor might have it easier than other politicians who have clashed with their churches. During the 2004 presidential campaign, for example, John Kerry's religion was in the spotlight after St. Louis Archbishop Raymond Burke said he would deny Communion to Kerry because of the candidate's support for abortion rights.

Don't look for a similar blowup among Missouri Baptists though. Messer said his denomination doesn't have hierarchical authority over individual churches, and he said Baptists for the most part rely on individual parishioners to determine whether they can participate in Communion with clear consciences.

Baptist theology, he said, teaches that a man's relationship with God is between him and God.

"We have no authoritative mediation role between the two," Messer added.

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