Archdiocese wants ice bucket funds sent to different group

The Archdiocese of St. Louis is urging those who take part in the popular ice bucket challenge that raises funds to fight Lou Gehrig's disease to shift their donations away from the ALS Association to a group that doesn't support embryonic cell research.

A statement issued by the Respect Life Apostolate of the Archdiocese says: There is nothing immoral about raising awareness for diseases and ethical research towards curing diseases; there is no reason Catholics can't participate. The key, however, is to ensure that donations from participation are being utilized to support morally licit research.

The archdiocese suggests instead donating to the John Paul II Medical Research Institute, an organization conducting similar research using only adult stem cells.

Chicago ALS Association development director Mary Ilene Blondell says a very small part of ALS Association funding goes to embryonic stem cell research.

The ALS Association said it's raised more than $53 million as participants take a bucket of ice water and drench themselves.

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Archdiocese wants ice bucket funds sent to different group