William Batz, who has a doctorate in philosophy and is the secretary for social concerns at the Diocese of Pittsburgh, recently answered questions from the Pittsburgh Catholic on stem cell research from a Catholic perspective.

What is a stem cell? A stem cell is essentially a “blank” [unspecialized] cell, capable of becoming another more differentiated cell type in the body, such as a skin cell, a muscle cell, or a nerve cell. Why are stem cells important? Stem cells can be used to replace or heal damaged t

Your newborn baby could be a life-saving hero! What an exciting idea for any parent.The blood contained in the umbilical cord at the birth of a child is a rich source of stem cells that can be used to treat a wide variety of diseases and conditions and with today’s advances in r