Washington, DC-Judie Brown, president of American Life League, the nation's
largest grassroots pro-life educational organization, issued the following
statement regarding the news that Senator Bill Frist now endorses the
expansion of human embryonic stem cell research:

"Sen. Bill Frist's announcement that he has reversed his opinion on the
expansion of human embryonic stem cell research is beyond repugnant to many
in the pro-life community. What has happened to this man, who once showed
promise of becoming a strong pro-life voice for the American people?

"Sadly, Sen. Frist now joins the ranks of numbers of politicians who have
sacrificed the truth to satisfy other, less noble, goals. Frist claims that
his opinion is one based on 'science.' However, Sen. Frist is certainly
ignoring one of the basic facts of Biology 101, which unequivocally tell us
that life begins at fertilization, when a new human person with unique DNA
is created. We are talking about our fellow human beings. In his heart,
Senator Frist must know that killing those human beings, for any reason, is
always wrong.

"While it is not surprising that those individuals who support the killing
of embryonic children are applauding Sen. Frist's latest move, it is quite
disheartening that so-called pro-life officials in the Bush administration
are excusing his crisis of conscience as 'understandable.'

"Sen. Frist's statements are a perfect example of the hypocrisy that has
slowly infected many in the political arena, even among Republican Party
officeholders claiming to be pro-life. The fact is, whether an innocent
human being is a few hours old or nine months old, an act that intentionally
kills him is always intrinsically evil and evil can never be justified - no
matter the perceived 'good' end. Human embryonic stem cell research kills
innocent human beings, and therefore is inherently evil."