Office of the Bishop

June 23-24, 2007

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

= It is with profound sadness that I inform you of the decision by the NC Hou= se Science and Technology Committee to pass on to the House Appropriations Com= mittee a request for the inclusion of $10 million in public funds in next yearR= 17;s State budget for embryonic stem cell research. As you know, we have b= een preparing for this possibility for some time and Bishop Burbidge and I laun= ched an education program last winter to educate the Catholics in our parishes a= bout many types of stem cell research the Catholic Church endorses but the immorality surrounding stem cell research that destroys a human embryo.

= I write asking for your support in defeating this bill. Please contact your Representative in the NC House this week to express your opposition to= HB 1837. At the bottom of this letter you will find instructions to assi= st you in identifying and contacting your legislator. Timing is crucial. The House Appropriations Committee meets regularly as it attempts to hammer out a final proposed budget. It is critical that legislators be contacted this week.

= I am grateful for your support in getting our Catholic voice heard across t= he State on legislation, that if passed, will result in untold numbers of inno= cent human lives being exterminated.

Sincerely in Christ,

= &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; &nb= sp;

Most Reverend Peter J. Jugis

Bishop of Charlotte

HOW TO CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATOR=

Electronically: = &nb= sp; 1. Go to http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/

2.&n= bsp; On the righ= t side of the homepage and click “Who Represents Me”=

3. = Type in your 9-digit zip code

4.&n= bsp; Click the Representative’s name to receive his or her phone number, e-mail addr= ess, and mailing address

Telephone: &n= bsp; = ; 1. Call 919-733-7760 and ask for the name = of your Representative

= &nb= sp; = and his/her conta= ct information.

A PROPOSED STATEMENT

Dear Representative N: I am a citizen living in your district. I am contacting you to express my opposition to House Bill 1837 which allocates = $10 million in public funds for embryonic stem cell research. Embryonic s= tem cell research results in the destruction of the embryo. I believe an embryo is a human life. I cannot condone the destruction of human life for the purpose of research. Please vote against funding this research. Thank you.