Most non-duplicated humans reject cloning

"A majority of Americans believe that abortion is wrong," said Father Joseph Howard, Jr., executive director of the American Bioethics Advisory Commission. "Given the alarmingly high rate of abortion which it would involve, Americans have another reason to reject human cloning."

As many as 50 embryonic persons would be needed to secure the survival of one human clone, according to a major media report. An additional nine or ten embryonic babies would be implanted, and only one would survive the abortion gauntlet.

"After abortion, the final survival rate of cloned human beings would be about 1.6 percent. It's no wonder 90 percent of all Americans polled think human cloning is a bad idea."

According to a TIME/CNN poll:

• 68% oppose cloning to produce vital organs to save others
• 76% oppose cloning to help infertile couples have children
• 86% oppose cloning to allow gay couples to have children
• 92% oppose cloning to create genetically superior human beings

"Americans oppose unnatural and destructive acts," Father Howard said. "A majority of Americans can see through the fallacy that 'abortion is a constitutional right' and can also see that human cloning is unethical utilitarianism."

Release issued: 21 Feb 01