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Cardinal O'Brien and Bishop Tartaglia continue opposition to HFEA Bill

Cardinal Keith O'Brien has used You Tube to warn of the dangers in the Government's Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill. In a 5 minute film which will be copied to DVD and sent to all UK MPs, the Cardinal reiterates his opposition to the creation of animal-human hybrid embryos and highlights recent opinion poll findings on the subject.

The Cardinal's message follows a letter sent yesterday to MP's in the Diocese of Paisley by Bishop Philip Tartaglia urging them not to vote for the Bill. The letter is addressed to Douglas Alexander MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South, Jim Sheridan MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South, Jim Murphy MP for East Renfrewshire and David Cairns MP for Inverclyde.

In the text, Bishop Tartaglia provides detailed ethical objections to the legislation pointing out that " we do not need this embryo-destructive research either from an ethical or a scientific-medical point of view" he also adds "I have become aware that the scientific community already knows that, contrary to what the Prime Minister has asserted, research on human embryos is not required to have access to human stem cells as the basis of therapy for serious medical conditions."

In conclusion the Bishop advises the MPs: "I intend to share the contents of this letter, together with details of your answer with the Catholic population in the Diocese of Paisley."

Full story and the text of Bishop Tartaglia's letter at the Scottish Catholic Media Office.