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New Bill threatens to further undermine the traditional family and represents a fundamental challenge to what it means to be human

Published: June 8th, 2007
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“A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling” Psalm 68:5



June 5th 2007



The Draft Human Tissue and Embryos Bill has now been published. Within it the Government propose to remove the requirement for doctors to have regard for the need of any child they assist in bringing into the world through assisted reproductive technology for a father (clause 21). This proposal flies in the face of the wealth of research that demonstrates that a father is central to a child’s welfare. This role is different but complementary to that of the mother. Children deprived of a father often experience psychological, social and community disadvantages. This proposal is all about the alleged “rights” and demands of adults and nothing about the needs of children. In the Bible the “fatherless” are pictured as weak and defenceless, but our great and compassionate God “defends the cause of the fatherless” (Deut. 10:18). We are now called to do that too.


This Bill has many other concerning features as summarised below:


  1. The Bill will allow scientists to create any variety of animal-human hybrid embryos for research purposes (clause 17);

  2. It is proposed that the Reproductive Cloning Act 2001, which banned reproductive cloning, be repealed and replaced by something far less clear cut (clause 16, para 15.5);

  3. It is proposed that non-profit making bodies be allowed to advertise in order facilitate surrogacy arrangements (clause 66).


The Government has invited written evidence by 15th June. Please pray about this Bill and consider writing to the Government with your views. You can find the draft Bill and details of the Government’s request for evidence by following the link below:


http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/ PublicationsLegislation/DH_074718


Please choose one or two of the above issues that you feel most strongly about and make one or two points about each. Here are some suggested points you could make about the other issues:


  • The human embryo is human life. It is unethical to use them as a means to an end

  • The animal/human hybrid embryos are alleged to be needed to conduct embryonic stem cell research but adult stem cell research has far greater potential to create useful therapies and is ethically sound. It has already produced real medical advances when embryonic stem cell research has produced none (for further information, see the cloning and embryology pages of the Care website at www.care.org.uk/Publisher/Article.aspx?ID=58254 and www.bioethics.ac.uk)

  • The mixing of human and non-human biological material involves an unnatural crossing of the species barrier. We do not know what the consequences could be in terms of tumour formation or disease transmission.

  • The creation of animal/human hybrids is banned in many countries.

  • Cloning human embryos is unethical because it uses human life as a means to an end

  • Reproductive cloning or the creation of “designer babies” is totally unethical

  • Adult stem cell technology has already made great advances in providing therapies and is an ethically sound alternative to embryonic cloning

  • Surrogacy involves risks to all involved and is not the simple solution to childlessness that it may appear.


For further information on these issues the website of the Christian Medical Fellowship is highly recommended (www.cmf.org.uk).


Your letters should be addressed to:


Kate Lawrence
Clerk to the Joint Committee on the Draft Human Tissue and Embryos Bill
House of Lords
London SW1A 0PW
and preferably by email to


If you would like to write to individual members of the committee, they are as follows:


In the House of Commons (write to them at the following address: House of Commons, Westminster, London, SW1A 0AA )


Phil Willis (Chair), David Burrows MP, Katie Clark MP, Dr Ian Gibson MP, Chris Mole MP, Dr Doug May Smith MP, Geraldine Smith MP, Dari Taylor MP


In the House of Lords (write to them at the following address: The House of Lords, London, SW1A 0PW)


Baroness Deech, Baroness Hollis of Heigham, Lord Jenkin of Reading, Lord Mackay of Clashfern, Baroness Neuberger, Bishop of St Albans, Lord Selsdon, Lord Turnberg, Lord Winston


We will endeavour to keep you updated on this issue and provide further information in the near future.


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