The controversial Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill passed its second reading last week and today MPs will begin debating on the provision for the creation of animal-human hybrid embryos.
Christian Today spoke to the head of the Christian Medical Fellowship, Dr Peter Saunders, to find out what he thinks of the Bill.
CT: What aspects of the Bill are you most concerned about?
PS: The four key issues are the ones for which conscience votes are being granted: animal-human hybrids for research, saviour siblings and particularly the extension from life threatening to serious disease, the role of the father for IVF children, and abortion. Abortion isn't on the face of the Bill but the Bill opens up the abortion element for amendment.
There are two subsidiary campaigns that CMF are involved with. The Alive and Kicking campaign (www.aliveandkickingcampaign.org)
on abortion brings together 12 Christian and life groups with the aim of halving the abortion rate and stopping liberalisation of the abortion laws, getting restrictive amendments, and to bring down the upper limit for abortion for normal babies, the upper limit for abortions from disabled babies from birth to 24 weeks, and to bring in a charter of informed consent for women.
We believe the third one of those is most important in terms of bringing the abortion rate down. Many women choose abortion because they feel they don't have a choice. Our aim would be to bring in a charter of informed consent, with proper counselling, a cooling off period and the time, space, information and support to be able to make a properly informed decision.
We know from experience that that will have a huge impact on bringing down the abortion rate. The upper limit is more about saving the most saveable group of babies - those between 20 and 24 weeks. And symbolically it's incredibly important. Sadly, in terms of making big inroads into the 200,000 abortions a year, it's not going to be hugely significant.
The other campaign we are involved in is the 20 Weeks campaign (www.the20weekscampaign.org) launched earlier this month by Nadine Dorries MP. Alive and Kicking's petition has 25,000 signatures already and will be presented to Parliament on Tuesday 20 May. The 20 Weeks campaign has a postcard and e-postcard campaign and a petition with about 6,000 signatures so far, which is also due to be presented on Tuesday.
CT: How will you work with MPs as they go over this Bill?
PS: In terms of amendments, it's all up to the MPs and we are involved in supporting them in placing amendments on 19 and 20 May. Their decision is that they want to focus entirely on restrictive amendments and go as far as they possibly can at this point.
