Children of God for Life and Human Life International Blast Win Shareholder Resolution Votes - Blast Merck at Annual Meeting
For Immediate Release, April 23, 2003
North Branch, NJ - While Merck was somewhat successful in keeping pertinent information from shareholders about their use of aborted fetal tissue in vaccines, those in attendance at the annual meeting yesterday at Raritan Community College in North Branch got an earful - much to the dismay of Merck CEO, Raymond Gilmartin. Through joint efforts between Children of God for Life and Human Life International, enough stock was purchased to file a formal resolution which received the shareholder votes needed for approval.
Father Thomas Euteneuer, President of Human Life International opened the 3 minute allotted speaking time saying, "Merck has violated its own Statement of Values by profiting from the destruction of innocent human life. Their $546.6 million in sales on vaccines alone - many of which use aborted fetal cell lines supports this fact." The microphone was then turned over to Debi Vinnedge, Executive Director of Children of God for Life who blasted the Board for their inherent disregard for the American public's plea for ethical vaccines.
"I've heard a lot of talk today about how Merck is so highly committed to ethical behavior, but that is pretty hard to swallow in light of your business practices." In a prepared statement to the Board, Vinnedge went on to say, "Certainly, abortion is an acutely painful, controversial, and bitterly divisive issue. Any manufacturer that deliberately and needlessly chooses to utilize abortion-derived cell lines causes great hardship for thousands, if not millions, of people worldwide by excluding a large number of them from the benefits of preventative medicine. Whether by intent or indifference, such action constitutes an attempt to force the acceptance of fetal exploitation." (Read the entire statement)
The reaction from the shareholders was immediate. As Ms. Vinnedge concluded her statement and questions were put to the floor, one gentleman stood up and demanded to know if what had just been stated was true. He wanted to know if Merck was using embryos - an unfortunate mistake in his choice of wording, since it is fetal tissue and not embryos that are used in the vaccines. Gilmartin craftily answered the question, "No, we are not using embryos or researching them." When the man asked, "Well is she lying then?, Gilmartin did not answer and instead moved to other questions from the floor.
But Father Euteneuer was not about to let it go unchallenged. Taking the microphone he told the audience about the aborted fetal cell lines, emphasizing the newest innocent victim, PER C6 which would be used in their new HIV vaccine. "This fetal cell line was taken from the retinal tissue of an 18 week gestation baby and Merck just bought the rights on it last year. We demand that you give full disclosure of this activity to your shareholders!" His words were greeted with an immediate round of applause from the audience!
As the meeting drew to a close the shareholder votes were tallied and read. In order for the resolution to be adopted, 3% of the proxy votes would be needed. The pro-life resolution drew nearly 5% with final numbers to be added in the coming days. It was a great victory for the Campaign and the pro-life movement for it now sets the stage for further action, much of which will be sorted out during the coming weeks.
At the conclusion of the meeting Vinnedge presented several three-ring binders bulging with petition signatures, letters from the public and the Merck Boycott to Raymond Gilmartin. "I know there is a great deal of information here, but you need to read what the public is saying, Mr. Gilmartin", she said quietly. "Please listen to them." Gilmartin took the binder graciously and thanked her for bringing the matter to his attention.
But Dr. Adel Mahmoud, President of Merck's Vaccine Division was not so kind. In a heated discussion with Fr. Euteneuer and Ms.Vinnedge he coldly stated, "It is just YOUR opinion that what we are doing is unethical! Who are you to impose your values on us?" When Vinnedge pointed out it was not just her opinion but the voice of nearly half a million Americans, he scoffed at the small number compared to the US population. Vinnedge did not relent. "These are just the signatures of those who KNOW about what you are doing. At least 50% of Americans are pro-life and when the truth is made known to them, either your practices - or your market will end, sir!"
The Truth On Aborted Fetal Cell Line Vaccines