THE ARCHBISHOP of Canterbury has voiced his concerns over the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, which may allow the creation of hybrid embryos and “saviour siblings”.
Writing in The Mail on Sunday before the second reading of the Bill in Parliament on Monday, Dr Williams expressed his disquiet over the creation of embryos for research which would then be destroyed.
“[If you] talk about creating an embryo that could in principle become a distinctive person — because it is already a distinctive organic unity — could this, in the long run, encourage a drift towards a new attitude to human life, an attitude that is more and more fuzzy about the absolute right of an individual not to be used for the purposes of another?”
He also questioned the idea of the creation of so-called “saviour siblings”, and asked for further debate on the implications of creating life in order to cure another person’s medical condition.
On Monday, the Bill passed its second reading in the Commons by 340 votes to 78. The most controversial aspects are to be discussed in Parliament next Monday and Tuesday during the committee stage.
There will be a debate on the reduction of the abortion limit from 24 weeks to 20, and whether IVF should be allowed for lesbian couples, removing the need for a father.
Labour MPs will be given a free vote at that stage, but will be ordered to support the Bill during its final reading, a move that has been criticised by Christian MPs and campaign groups. |
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