My daughter is about to give birth, and she and her husband plan to store the baby’s placenta and umbilical cord blood with a “banking” company, in the event the baby needs the stem cells later in life. (Companies that do this say that science is moving fast and that these particular stem cells may soon be used to treat or cure heart disease, diabetes, liver disease, and stroke among other things.)

But I’ve read that the Catholic Church is against this practice, and I think it’s hooey. I want to try to talk my daughter out of doing it. Can you give me any advice?

— Squeamish