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Source: Pro-Life Infonet; March 26,
2003
Merck & Co. Criticized for Using Aborted Fetal Tissue in Vaccines
Clearwater, FL -- Pro-life organizations, Children of God for Life
and Human Life International charged today that pharmaceutical giant,
Merck & Co. has betrayed their stockholders by refusing to include
language in Shareholder Proposal No. 7. that would have revealed:
- An organized boycott of all Merck products
- A resolution by the Catholic Medical Association to use alternatives
to their vaccines cultivated on aborted fetal tissue and
- Instruction by investment counseling organization, Pro Vita Advisors,
that investors divest their Merck stock.
By using aborted fetal cell lines in vaccine production, Human Life
International, President Rev. Thomas J. Euteneuer, who purchased
sufficient shares of Merck stock demanded fellow shareholders be
informed that Merck has violated its own Statement on Values, which
states in part, "We are committed to the highest standards of ethics
and integrity".
In a 5-page letter to the SEC, Merck pleaded their case to keep
the entire resolution from becoming public, stating that the use
of aborted fetal cell lines falls under ordinary business and therefore
should be excluded from the proxy vote. In addition, Merck refused
to acknowledge that they were profiting from the destruction of
human life, stating there was no financial evidence to prove it.
Merck's net income for 2002 was $7,149.5 million, with $34.6 million
in viral vaccine sales.
While the SEC agreed to allow the information to be included in
this years annual meeting, Merck's attorneys were able to successfully
remove most of the critical language.
What they have done is deny their stockholders the right to vote
on the true language of the resolution, stated Children of God for
Life's Executive Director Debi Vinnedge, who has organized the boycott
and the Campaign for Ethical Vaccines with over 475,000 signatures.
Rev Euteneuer agreed. Watch for your proxy cards in the mail and
if their practice of using aborted fetal cell lines offends you,
vote in favor of Resolution 7., to appoint a special committee linking
executive compensation with the Company's ethical performance.
"What went in and what came out of that resolution are quite different",
said Vinnedge. "While we are pleased that the SEC agreed to provide
stockholders with the information that aborted fetal cell lines
are used in Merck's vaccines, we also believe they should be aware
of boycotts, investment warnings and the resolution by the Catholic
Medical Association to use alternatives. In effect, such actions
by several organizations and parents to boycott all Merck products
and use alternatives may eventually decrease their sales numbers
and devalue the stock".
To review the Merck Proxy statement being mailed to shareholders
for consideration at the upcoming meeting, go to: http://www.merck.com/finance/proxy/pr2003/proposal_4.html
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