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Brown criticised over embryo bill | |
(10 minutes later) | |
The leader of the Catholic church in Scotland has urged Gordon Brown to rethink "monstrous" plans to allow hybrid human-animal embryos. | |
Cardinal Keith O'Brien will use his Easter Sunday sermon to launch a scathing attack on the prime minister over the controversial proposals. | Cardinal Keith O'Brien will use his Easter Sunday sermon to launch a scathing attack on the prime minister over the controversial proposals. |
He will also criticise Mr Brown for not allowing Labour MPs a free vote on the issue at Westminster. | He will also criticise Mr Brown for not allowing Labour MPs a free vote on the issue at Westminster. |
Mr Brown has said the bill would improve research into many illnesses. | Mr Brown has said the bill would improve research into many illnesses. |
Supporters of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill believe hybrid embryos could lead to cures for diseases including multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease. | Supporters of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill believe hybrid embryos could lead to cures for diseases including multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease. |
Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, Mr Brown said: "This is an important Bill that improves the facilities for research and is vital for dealing with life-threatening diseases." | Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, Mr Brown said: "This is an important Bill that improves the facilities for research and is vital for dealing with life-threatening diseases." |
We are about to have a public government endorsement of experiments of Frankenstein proportion Cardinal Keith O'Brien | We are about to have a public government endorsement of experiments of Frankenstein proportion Cardinal Keith O'Brien |
But in his sermon, which was released on Friday, Cardinal O'Brien claims that the Bill would lead to the endorsement of experiments of "Frankenstein proportion". | But in his sermon, which was released on Friday, Cardinal O'Brien claims that the Bill would lead to the endorsement of experiments of "Frankenstein proportion". |
He will say: "This Bill represents a monstrous attack on human rights, human dignity and human life. | He will say: "This Bill represents a monstrous attack on human rights, human dignity and human life. |
"In some European countries one could be jailed for doing what we intend to make legal. | "In some European countries one could be jailed for doing what we intend to make legal. |
"I can say that the government has no mandate for these changes: they were not in any election manifesto, nor do they enjoy widespread public support." | "I can say that the government has no mandate for these changes: they were not in any election manifesto, nor do they enjoy widespread public support." |
The Cardinal will describe the practice as "grotesque" and "hideous". | The Cardinal will describe the practice as "grotesque" and "hideous". |
He will add: "One might say that in our country we are about to have a public government endorsement of experiments of Frankenstein proportion - without many people really being aware of what is going on." | He will add: "One might say that in our country we are about to have a public government endorsement of experiments of Frankenstein proportion - without many people really being aware of what is going on." |
Cardinal O'Brien goes on to call for the establishment of a "single permanent national bioethics commission". | Cardinal O'Brien goes on to call for the establishment of a "single permanent national bioethics commission". |
He has written to Mr Brown to tell him that this would be the only way in which the issue can be "adequately discussed". | He has written to Mr Brown to tell him that this would be the only way in which the issue can be "adequately discussed". |