| Faith
in Action
Human
Fertilisation and Embryology Bill
Worried
about this Bill?
Take
action now. It only takes a few minutes. Please click on
this link http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/embryovote/
and sign the current ugov. petition on the 10 Downing Street
website.
If
you’d like more background on the Bill read Archbishop
Smith of Cardiff ’s piece below:
"The
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill is a bill going
through Parliament at the moment. It is a proposed new law
about infertility treatment and about experimentation on
human embryos. It raises four key concerns:
1.
Hybrids: The Bill will allow scientists to create embryos
that are half human, half animal. For example, from the
egg of a woman and sperm from an animal. To do this would
be a radical violation of human dignity.
2.
The Welfare of the Child: At present, infertility clinics
have to consider the 'need of a child for a father'. The
Bill will remove the reference to a father. The Bill will
also make it easier to use women as 'surrogate mothers'.
The law should give recognition to fathers and encourage
fathers to take responsibility for their children. The Bill
needs to recognise the natural right of the child to a mother
and a father.
3.
How Future Decisions are Made: At present, decisions are
made by an unelected and un-representative body. The Human
Fertilisation and Embryology Authority appears to exclude
people who cherish human life from conception. The government
should be urged to create a statutory National Bioethics
Commission with a broad spectrum of experts including people
from faith communities.
4.
Abortion: The Bill does not mention abortion, but some Members
of Parliament
have already said that they want to amend the law to make
abortion more easily available. Others may propose amendments
to limit abortion. Any change in the law should aim to make
abortion rarer and to give greater recognition to the unborn
child.
What
you can do:
The proposed Bill raises deep questions about what it is
to be human, about the role of fathers and mothers and the
needs of children, and about how ethical decisions are made.
The Bill may be used as a vehicle to make abortion more
common. The Bill will be passed in the name of all citizens
and if you do not speak out about it then YOUR SILENCE WILL
BE TAKEN AS CONSENT.
Please
write or email
our MP, The Rt. Hon. Michael Jack (House of Commons,
London, SW1 0AA).
What
should you write?
Whether you are writing a letter or an email, write something
in your own words.
Make it clear that you are concerned about this Bill. You
do not have to mention every issue. It may be more effective
if different people write on different aspects of the Bill.
You should write about what concerns you most. Please remember
to be polite and courteous. You will make no friends or
allies by being rude or aggressive.
There
is more information on the Bill at www.catholicchurch.org.uk"
H.
Guymer
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