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AN UNHOLY ROW OVER EMBRYOS

25-03-2008

The current row over human-animal embryo experiments reminds me of why I’m a lapsed Catholic rather than a practising one writes Stirrer editor Adrian Goldberg.  But that shouldn’t stop MPs having a free vote.

From the Pope downwards, the Roman church believes in the most literal interpretation of the sanctity of life – an “every sperm is sacred” attitude gloriously mocked in Monty Python’s “Meaning Of Life” (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=9002085385040727366).

Humour aside, it’s a grotesquely literal attitude that has contributed to the global population explosion and the AIDS pandemic in Africa.

We should not be surprised, then, that a leading British Catholic – Cardinal Keith O’Brien – has invoked Frankenstein and accused the government of a “monstrous attack” on human life for trying to broaden the scope of embryo experiments.

More rational minds explain that by cross fertilising animal and human cells, scientists can get on with discovering cures for the diseases likes Alzheimer’s and Parkinsons – whose victims surely take precedence over the “life” created in a test tube.

For all that, it seems bizarre that Labour MP’s should be whipped into supporting a bill they don’t believe in. 

I can’t remember stem cell research being a manifesto pledge, and like abortion or hanging there must surely be scope for allowing MP’s to be more than mere ciphers.

Indeed, it begs the question of whether the whips system actually perverts the true purpose of parliament – every MP who votes in the name of their party against their conscience (or their electors’ interests) is surely betraying their mandate.

We need elected representatives who represent US – not the narrow tribes of red, blue and yellow.

Gordon Brown’s innate failure to grasp the subtleties of religious belief – and indeed of parliamentary democracy – have once again made him look slow-witted and out of touch with the people.

Maybe one day, someone will have the bright idea of cross-fertilising him with a human being.