The US Congress passed a controversial bill last week to allow federal funding of research that uses embryonic stem cells.

However, George Bush issued a statement immediately after the bill was passed saying that he will veto the bill on his return from the G8 summit in Germany. “If this bill were to become law,” said President Bush, “American taxpayers would for the first time in our history be compelled to support the deliberate destruction of human embryos.”

Although the bill was passed by a wide margin, it did not meet the two thirds majority needed to override any veto. Nevertheless, politicians who favour stem cell research are hoping to rally enough votes to override the anticipated presidential veto.

Pro-life advocates oppose …