The Roman Catholic Church and the wealthy evangelical Christian Howard Ahmanson Jr. have emerged as the biggest financial backers of the campaign against a California ballot measure that would fund stem cell research and cloning projects.
Each contributed $50,000 last week to separate campaign groups, bringing the total to $125,000 combined.
Proposition 71 on the Nov. 2 ballot directs the state to borrow $3 billion to pay for the controversial research that scientists say is being hindered by the Bush administration.
Supporters have amassed about $12 million, including a contribution of 22,400 shares of biotechnology giant Amgen worth more than $1.3 million. The contribution was made by wealthy venture capitalist William Bowes Jr., the founding chairman of Amgen. All told, venture capitalists have contributed more than $3 million to the pro-71 campaign.
Human embryonic stem cells are created in the first days after conception and ultimately turn into all the cells, tissues and organs that comprise the human body. Scientists hope to harness this power to create replacement cells and tissues to treat a wide range of ailments, from diabetes to spinal cord injury.
But many conservatives oppose stem cell research because it destroys embryos.