Religion & Law

A "free vote" on life?

By Rick Garnett

An interesting story is developing in the United Kingdom, regarding the "Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill" under consideration in Parliament.  Here is a bit:

Fertility expert and television scientist Lord Robert Winston has accused senior members of the Catholic church of lying over the controversial embryo research bill after an Easter weekend which has seen it condemned from pulpits up and down Britain.

A coalition of charities and support groups representing scientists, doctors and patients suffering from a wide range of serious conditions has written to every MP urging them to back the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, which will allow the creation of part-human, part-animal embryos for medical research.

At the weekend Scottish Cardinal Keith O'Brien said the bill would allow "grotesque procedures" which would "attack the sanctity and dignity of human life".

Read more here.  Apparently, part of the drama concerns the question whether Catholic MPs will be given a "free vote" by the Labour Party: 

Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, leader of the Roman-Catholic Church in England and Wales, yesterday became the most senior clergyman to insist that Labour MPs should be granted a free vote.

He urged Catholic MPs - including Cabinet ministers Ruth Kelly, Des Browne and Paul Murphy - and those of other faiths to be guided by their religious convictions.

So far, Labour has refused to follow Parliamentary tradition on issues of conscience and allow MPs to vote as they wish on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, though it has in the past given free votes on issues such as hunting, reform of the House of Lords and fluoride in drinking water.

Instead, MPs will be whipped - meaning they could face disciplinary action if they refuse to support the Bill. . . .

UPDATE:  As a reader reminds me, it's not just Catholics and Catholic clergy who are worried about the Bill.  Here is Anglican Bishop N.T. Wright's Easter sermon on the issue.

Full post as published by Mirror of Justice on March 24, 2008 (boomark / email).