Cardinal urges rethink on NHS fertility treatment

CARDINAL Keith O'Brien has urged Gordon Brown to think again about legislation which will make it easier for single women and lesbians to receive fertility treatment on the NHS.

The leader of Scotland's Catholics has written to the Prime Minister, objecting to the removal of the reference in the current law to "the need for a father".

And he claimed the change, contained in the UK Human Tissues and Embryos Bill, could be harmful to the long term welfare of children.

Cardinal O'Brien said: "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 claimed the proposals constituted "a sweeping attempt to rewrite traditional concepts of parenthood and the family".

He said: "We believe that the state should not deny the child's need for a father nor ignore a wealth of social research findings upholding the notion that deliberately planning to have fatherless children is inimical to their long-term welfare."

And he asked Mr Brown to review the timetable for public consultation on the bill. "We do not believe that there has been anywhere near sufficient widespread and informed public consultation on the matters in question, and that to proceed in haste with regard to issues of such grave importance is both improper and dangerous.

"We ask you now to act with some urgency to ensure that these very important considerations are given the time they merit."