In his Easter Vigil homily, The Bishop of Lancaster, Rt Rev Patrick O'Donoghue, joined church leaders around the country to speak out against the Government's Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill that is now before Parliament.

The Bishop spoke passionately about the Bill's proposed sanction of the creation of human-animal hybrids for medical experimentation:

As part of the ongoing Mission Review a revised draft proposal has now been released. We have been asked to consider the proposal and respond to some key questions. Why not visit the parsh forum to give your views.

See below for extracts from the revised report. See Parish Documents for all the latest Mission Review documents.

Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill
Press release Issued by the Catholic Communications Network
19th February 2008

Now is the time for our voices to be heard on Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, says the Cardinal.

Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor has sent out a pastoral message to Catholics in England and Wales encouraging them to write to their MPs about the "profound questions of human life and dignity" posed by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill.

The Bill has completed its passage through the House of Lords and will be debated in the House of Commons in the coming weeks. It extends the scope of scientific research on human embryos and allows the creation of animal and human hybrid embryos for research. It removes a provision to have regards for the child's need for a father when IVF methods are used. Attempts to liberalise the abortion law further are also expected.

The Cardinal said: "Many people of all faiths and none are deeply concerned by the moral questions raised by this Bill. Now is the time for our voices to be heard."

"Taking action on this pressing issue now helps to remind us that our Christian witness can never just be personal but involves us too as citizens committed to serving the common good of society and to upholding the human dignity of all."