Stem Cell Research, Is it Ethical?

This posting is mostly in response to some earlier discussion and discussion on other related blogs.

There is no doubt in my mind when I say stem cell research is ethical. I don't think it is really a matter of whether it is ethical or not, I think the ethical issue comes in when we discuss where we get the embryonic cells. I don't believe an embryo has any moral status. It is a cell, not a human being. It is part of a human being, but it is not an actual being. There are currently millions of embryonic cells that are sitting unused in labs, from aborted births, prenatal deaths, and other sources. Stem cell research could be a huge benefit to human life in a medical sense. It can allow scientists to use human cells in cancer research and drug testing.

So lets get down to the nity grity of the ethical issue I am raising...
Where will the embryonic cells come from in the future? I don't think that it should be made public knowledge that stem cells from aborted births are used for stem cell research, because I think that will promote a rise in abortions and irresponsibility among sexual relations. I am not a 100% pro-lifer, however I do believe the only abortions that should be made would be those of women who were sexually assualted and were bearing a child from a sexual encounter against their will.

I think it is perfectly fine to use embryonic cells from prenatal deaths and by any other way in which a scientist can get these cells without resorting to an aborted birth right away.