To put this into perspective, the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge started July 29, 2014 and, I am more than happy to report that currently the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge has raised over $31.5 million for ALS research. Ordinarily, ALS would typically raise close to $2 million in that same time period.
$31.5 million compared to $2 million in donations is astonishingly awesome ... so ... one Catholic Priest, Fr. Michael Duffy has decided to capitalize on the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge Donations to pimp and divert ALS donations to his own charity of choice.
From Fr. Duffy's blog:
As the ALS association is supportive of embryonic stem cell research, we as catholics ought not to support it, especially when there are morally acceptable alternatives. The John Paul II Medical Research Institute is just that, a morally acceptable alternative to the ALS Association.
If you are nominated to do the Ice Bucket challenge, donate to the JPII Medical Research Institute:
The John Paul II Medical Research Institute (JP2MRI) is excited to kick off 2014 with a One Million Dollar Capital Campaign Drive to start the process of developing adult stem cell therapies.
...
The cost to build and initiate the operation is anticipated to be 1 million dollars. Funds raised from the One Million Dollar Capital Campaign Drive will be used to help build the clean room, lease additional laboratory space, hire scientific personnel and purchase necessary laboratory equipment to develop adult stem cell therapies.
Ok, to me, what Fr. Duffy is doing is grotesque!
Fr. Duffy is trying to guilt people into not donating for research on a deadly disease and, instead, divert those donations so a "clean room" can be built at a Catholic hospital. How about instead of Fr. Duffy's scheme to divert ALS donations, he simply pick up the phone and call the Pope and ask him to sell one of those million dollar pieces of art being stored in the Vatican's museum?
Here is a spot on comment left by one of Fr. Duffy's blog readers:
Colleen Connell Mitchell • 4 days ago
So are they researching actual cures for ALS? I do not see this as an alternative unless that is the case.
The rightwinged blog Life League has a blurb on their blog highlighting that ALS donors may specify that their donations not go toward the embryonic stem cell portion of their research and perhaps Fr. Duffy may be hoping you forget that fact:
In an email to ALL from Carrie Munk at the ALS Association:
The ALS Association primarily funds adult stem cell research. Currently, The Association is funding one study using embryonic stem cells (ESC), and the stem cell line was established many years ago under ethical guidelines set by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS); this research is funded by one specific donor, who is committed to this area of research. In fact, donors may stipulate that their funds not be invested in this study or any stem cell project. Under very strict guidelines, The Association may fund embryonic stem cell research in the future.
ALS, also known as Lou Lou Gehrig's Disease, is a horrid, horrid and deadly disease of the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement. ALS strikes a person no matter their age, color, religion, occupation etc. For instance, Janell Mohr, 56 years old, of Indiana has ALS and
described it this way:
MOHR: “My mind’s not going to be affected, but my body is. So, it’s like you’re living inside a tomb,”
[emphasis added]
The good news is ALS does not strike as many people as, say, cancer does. But, the bad news is, as a result, not many people know the death-sentence that ALS is and, not many people donate to ALS because they are simply either unaware of ALS and/or they don't get solicited to donate to ALS.
Janell Mohr goes on to say
MOHR: “They may be tired of seeing people dousing their head with water. But, have some patience for the people that have this disease. And this is something that’s bringing it into the limelight. So, your children and your children aren’t doomed if they have the ALS,”
News 8 did a story on ALS and wrote:
Right now, Mohr is affected from the knees down. She wears a brace so her toes don’t droop when she takes steps. Doctors say she could wake up next week and be wheelchair bound. Her husband, her children and grandchildren are her support.
They go on to write:
ALS leaves the mind intact and robs the body of its muscle function. Typically after diagnosis, doctors say people like Mohr have two to five years to live. Mohr plans to make the best of it.
So, it is absolutely
AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME that the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge is not only allowing people to become aware of ALS but is also raising money for research. How dare Fr. Duffy try to divert donations from that worthy charity!
If anyone is interested in donating to ALS here is their website.