This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/7308224.stm

The article has changed 15 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Brown criticised over embryo bill Brown criticised over embryo bill
(about 2 hours later)
The leader of the Catholic church in Scotland has urged Gordon Brown to rethink "monstrous" plans to allow hybrid human-animal embryos.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 over the government's controversial proposals. Cardinal Keith O'Brien will use his Easter Sunday sermon to launch a scathing attack on the government's controversial proposals.
He will also call on the prime minister to allow Labour MPs a free vote on the issue at Westminster.He will also call on the prime minister to allow 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 proportions 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 will claim that the bill would lead to the endorsement of experiments of "Frankenstein proportions".
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 proportions - without many people really being aware of what is going on."
Free voteFree vote
Cardinal O'Brien goes on to call for the establishment of a "single permanent national bioethics commission". Cardinal O'Brien will go 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 could be "adequately discussed".
A proposed amendment to the bill which would have prohibited the creation of inter-species embryos, known as human admixed embryos, was defeated by 268 votes to 96 in the House of Lords in January. A proposed amendment to the bill, which would have prohibited the creation of inter-species embryos - known as human admixed embryos - was defeated by 268 votes to 96 in the House of Lords in January.
Labour peers were instructed to follow the party whip by voting against the proposed amendment.Labour peers were instructed to follow the party whip by voting against the proposed amendment.
Conservative leader David Cameron has called on Mr Brown to allow Labour MPs to have a free vote on the bill when it returns to the House of Commons later in the year.Conservative leader David Cameron has called on Mr Brown to allow Labour MPs to have a free vote on the bill when it returns to the House of Commons later in the year.
Free votes allow MPs to vote according to their own beliefs rather than following the party whip.Free votes allow MPs to vote according to their own beliefs rather than following the party whip.
Mr Brown has said a decision on whether a free vote will be held would be taken "in due course".Mr Brown has said a decision on whether a free vote will be held would be taken "in due course".