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Feds Dump Cold Water on ALS Bucket Challenge

CBN

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The State Department has banned ambassadors and other high-profile foreign service officers from participating in the viral social-media ice-bucket challenge.

State Department lawyers say it violates federal ethics rules because some ALS research associations use embryonic stem-cell research.

The challenge is either donate to research or dump a bucket of cold water on your head. Participants post their videos and then challenge others.

The campaign has raised awareness for ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease. ALS is a degenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, eventually shutting down muscle ability, leading to death.

Some at CBN are even participating. Click play to watch.

The campaign as has gone viral and it is working. According to the ALS Association, donations are up millions more than they were this time last year.

The use of embryonic stem cells in research has also been a criticism by pro-life supporters. But the challenge is not specific to this particular association.

Donors may also opt to donate to a different ALS research group that does not support embryonic research, like John Paul II Medical Research Institute.

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