Scottish Catholic, Cardinal Keith O'Brian, has called on the UK Prime Minister to reconsider proposals to remove the current reference to 'the need for a father' contained in legislation governing IVF. Section 13 (5) of the 1990 Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act stipulates that in offering IVF, clinics must take into account the welfare of a child - 'including the need for a father' - which some claim has been interpreted to deny lesbian couples and single women access to treatment. If the draft Human Tissues and Embryos Bill, currently undergoing Parliamentary scrutiny, becomes law as it stands, it will remove the phrase.
Cardinal O'Brien, along with another senior Scottish Catholic, Archbishop Mario Conti, wrote to Gordon Brown warning him that the bill constitutes 'a sweeping attempt to rewrite traditional concepts of parenthood and the family'. 'Prior to provision of fertility treatment, there will no longer be any requirement, nor guidance, to consider the child's need for a father. Paradoxically, consideration of the 'welfare of the child' will remain a duty for clinics', the Cardinal said.
In the letter they consider that there has not been a long enough period for public consultation and criticised the 'haste' in which Parliament is considering the bill as 'both improper and dangerous'.
Sources and References
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Senior Catholics tell PM test-tube baby law timetable too short
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Cardinal urges rethink on NHS fertility treatment
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