Lansing, USA - The Roman Catholic bishop of Lansing chastised Gov. Jennifer Granholm for speaking in favor of a ballot proposal expanding embryonic stem cell research in Michigan.
The governor said Oct. 26 "as a Catholic, I can say to be pro-cure is to be pro-life."
Bishop Earl Boyea said in a statement Tuesday that Granholm's argument that Proposal 2 is a valid expression of Catholic principles is "shocking."
Granholm spokeswoman Liz Boyd said Tuesday the governor was speaking for herself in Grand Rapids, not remarking on church policy.
Michigan's Catholic bishops have taken a strong position against Proposal 2. The Catholic Church teaches that is it is always immoral to destroy a human embryo.
Granholm supports the proposal, saying it will help find cures for diseases and create jobs.