Anyone's premature death is difficult because of the loss of potential. Yet precisely the same questions may be asked of every single human embryo who is torn apart to supply stem cells for medical research. That is the tragedy of premature death, whether it comes from cancer, AIDS, violence, or being researched to death. But others face the prospect of premature death from the illnesses which stem cells might some day alleviate. Only in a utilitarian system do the ends justify all means.
Scripture is clearly opposed to such a way of making ethical decisions.
For example, Jesus tells us that many will seek to enter heaven because they had done many good deeds. God is not just concerned about good outcomes, but cares about how those results were obtained. Such laudable goals and intentions as developing treatments and saving lives do not justify killing other humans, even the smallest human embryos. Lost in the controversy over embryo research is the fact that much progress has already been made without killing embryos. Stem cell research can continue without killing embryos.