(05/24/06) DENVILLE ? New Jersey?s 15 Catholic hospitals have announced they plan to encourage new mothers to donate their babies? umbilical cords and placentas to scientific research.

Umbilical cord blood contains stem cells, which scientists hope can be used to cure various disorders. New Jersey?s Catholic hospitals plan to help educate expecting parents on the details of umbilical cord donation. Hospital officials hope with a little education, the potentially life-saving items can be donated instead of discarded.

Some find it surprising that Catholic hospitals would throw their weight behind umbilical cord donations. The church opposes some forms of stem cell research. However, hospital representatives say they support cord blood because it doesn?t involve the use of stem cells from babies whose lives were terminated.