Pro-Life Lawmaker Clarifies Connection with ESCR-Promoting Institute
by Mary Rettig
February 8, 2006
(AgapePress) - - A California state senator says a Christian activist's claims that he is not pro-life are unfounded. The allegations that he and his wife support embryonic stem-cell research are simply untrue, he says. Last week, AgapePress reported on allegations by James Hartline against State Senator Bill Morrow and his wife, Barbara. Hartline, a Christian activist in the San Diego area, said the Morrows were clandestinely tied with embryonic stem-cell research, despite their public professions of being pro-life. To support his claims, Hartline pointed out that Mrs. Morrow is vice president-general counsel of the California Healthcare Institute -- an organization that is one of the state's major supporters of embryonic stem-cell research (ESCR). (See earlier article)
Senator Morrow does not deny that his wife is employed at the Institute. But he claims her work as general counsel does not require her to promote the company's position on ESCR. The state lawmaker explains that his wife took the job after much prayer and consideration.
"We sat down with pastors and nationally known bioethicists who were Christians and ministers ... before we accepted that position," Senator Morrow says.
Morrow states that he and his wife felt "very comfortable" with the advice they received -- specifically, that it would clearly understood Mrs. Morrow would not be called on to lobby in support of ESCR. "And under those conditions, which they've held up to, that's what she's done," he adds.
Morrow, who is running for the U.S. congressional seat left empty when Randy "Duke" Cunningham resigned, further elucidates the couple's reasoning behind their decision. "I characterize her as Daniel in Babylon with Nebuchadnezzar," he shares, "and as salt and light in, frankly, an area where we need to have more Christian influence."
Morrow says he and his wife are very much pro-life and vehemently oppose ESCR, despite the position of Mrs. Morrow's employer.
Mary Rettig, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
