"Should the government allow scientists to study the causes of human mental disease by using embryonic material or cloning procedures in their research? Why or why not."

Until the government creates laws restricting the use of embryonic material or cloning procedures for research, then I believe the government has no other choice but TO allow their use in research. The government creates the laws and the government enforces the laws. It is up to them.

Now, if the question is SHOULD the government make laws restricting the use of embryonic material/ cloning procedures in research, then that is an entirely different matter.

I have to agree with this statement made by Dr. David Prentice, a professor of life sciences at Indiana State University and a founder of Do No Harm, The Coalition of Americans for Research Ethics. "The root of the debate really comes down to the ethical question of what's the moral status of a human embryo," he said. "Is it a person or is it a piece of property? And obviously we have no consensus on that in this country and I think that means we should not use taxpayer funds to fund this type of research."

What it comes down to, really, is who is entitled to actually define the status of the embryo. My opinion, being Christian, is that unless God takes a keen interest in this debate then it will never be answered. However, God did bless us with a conscience and soul for use in the meantime.

Until then, every man will be responsible for his actions. If the true essence of the research is benevolent and beneficial to mankind, I have to imagine it will be done regardless. I simply hope the government makes some restrictions regarding the usage of the material, the procedures in which it is...