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| Brown criticised over embryo bill | Brown criticised over embryo bill |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The leader of the Roman Catholic church in Scotland has urged Gordon Brown to rethink "monstrous" plans to allow hybrid human-animal embryos. | The leader of the Roman 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 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. |
| Hybrid embryos | Hybrid embryos |
| The cardinal, who is the Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh, also wants Catholic ministers serving in the Cabinet to stand down rather than support the bill. | |
| 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. |
| Leading scientists accused the Roman Catholic Church of "scaremongering" over research which had the potential to save many lives. | Leading scientists accused the Roman Catholic Church of "scaremongering" over research which had the potential to save many lives. |
| "This is yet another example where it is clear that the Catholic Church is misrepresenting science because it doesn't understand the basic facts," said Dr Stephen Minger, director of the stem cell biology laboratory at King's College London. | "This is yet another example where it is clear that the Catholic Church is misrepresenting science because it doesn't understand the basic facts," said Dr Stephen Minger, director of the stem cell biology laboratory at King's College London. |
| He added: "The church should carefully review the science they are commenting on, and ensure that their official comments are accurate, before seriously misinforming their congregations." | He added: "The church should carefully review the science they are commenting on, and ensure that their official comments are accurate, before seriously misinforming their congregations." |
| 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 proportions 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 proportions". | 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 proportions". |
| He says: "This bill represents a monstrous attack on human rights, human dignity and human life. | He says: "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 describes the practice as "grotesque" and "hideous". | The cardinal describes the practice as "grotesque" and "hideous". |
| He adds: "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." | He adds: "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 vote | Free vote |
| Cardinal O'Brien calls for the establishment of a "single permanent national bioethics commission". | Cardinal O'Brien calls 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 could 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. |
| Scottish National Party Westminster leader Angus Robertson also urged Mr Brown to allow Labour MPs to vote according to their beliefs. | Scottish National Party Westminster leader Angus Robertson also urged Mr Brown to allow Labour MPs to vote according to their beliefs. |
| Mr Robertson said: "It is essential that MPs are allowed a free vote on this issue so they are not forced to compromise their own beliefs. | Mr Robertson said: "It is essential that MPs are allowed a free vote on this issue so they are not forced to compromise their own beliefs. |
| "There will be no whip on SNP MPs, and I would encourage Gordon Brown to allow Labour MPs the same right to vote according to their individual beliefs and moral judgment, rather than following a party whip." | "There will be no whip on SNP MPs, and I would encourage Gordon Brown to allow Labour MPs the same right to vote according to their individual beliefs and moral judgment, rather than following a party whip." |
| 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 will be taken "in due course". | Mr Brown has said a decision on whether a free vote will be held will be taken "in due course". |