I’ve been noticing that for all of the last ten years. In all honesty, I think most reporters have no idea that there is a difference. The public at large is probably equally confused. That is a shame, but it does call for continued education efforts.

Technically, therefore, their reports are accurate, but are still misleading, since most people hearing them assume the “embryonic.” And the reporters are certainly not going to correct their misunderstandings.

To do so would almost amount to a concession to the pro-life forces–which isn’t going to happen.

However, let us never forget the deeper motivation, the real First Thing which guides the opposition to embryonic stem cell use–it is an intrinsic evil, always gravely wrong, to kill an innocent human for the sake of trying to obtain a greater good. When we do, we repeat the sin of Caiaphas and the Sanhedron–”better that one man should die for the sake of the nation.”

Thus, even if we lose the utilitarian argument (which we likely will, sooner or later, as with abortion) we will still have the right answer. And we are reminded that winning the utilitarian argument is never enough. We must pray and work for a change of heart for our poor, broken culture.