Hello and welcome to the Parliamentary prayer update, my name is Gareth Wallace and I work in Westminster for the Evangelical Alliance Public Affairs Department.
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill
The Human Tissue and Embryos Bill has been renamed. It is now called The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill. It has just begun the process of being debated in Parliament. The first full debate of the Bill took place on Monday 19th November.
The Bill would permit experiments that much of the world would like to see outlawed. Scientists will be permitted to create ‘true hybrids’, embryos that would have a human parent and a nonhuman parent. These embryos would be destroyed at 14 days but the question remains: what kind of creatures would they be? This legislation also promises to reopen the debate around abortion.
Please pray for the health and swift recovery of Lord Brennan, who collapsed shortly after delivering a powerful speech at the debate on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill. The debate was adjourned and was concluded on the 21 November.
Many of the speakers in the debate spoke against Government plans to remove the requirement that IVF providers consider the need of a child for a father when considering IVF applications. Further controversy was sparked when it was reported that there might not be a free vote on this issue of conscience.
Please consider writing to your MP and ask them to get an assurance from their party leader that they will back a free vote on this important moral issue. If you feel uneasy about the creation of hybrids then the Downing Street website has two petitions you can sign:
Please Pray that as this Bill comes before Parliament the arguments for lowering abortion term limits will be given a fair hearing and the All Party Parliamentary Pro-life Group will be able to influence the debate.
Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill
On 18 October Dr Don Horrocks, Head of Public Affairs at the Evangelical Alliance gave evidence to the House of Commons Committee scrutinising the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill.
He stressed that there was no case for further extending incitement to hatred legislation on grounds of sexuality. While the Alliance supports legislation that prevents the stirring up of hatred, our view remains that the existing law is adequate to deal with offences relating both to religion and sexuality.
Comedian Rowan Atkinson, who also spoke out for freedom of speech on the Racial and Religious Hatred Bill said in a letter to The Times that “the casual ease with which some people move from finding something offensive to wishing to declare it criminal…is depressing.”
Please Pray for the Evangelical Alliance as their discussions with Government continue. Pray that freedom of speech will be safeguarded.
Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill Prostitution amendments
Evangelical Alliance member CARE has been working hard to see the issue of prostitution addressed more effectively by the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill.
New Clause 8 (tabled by Philip Hollobone MP) seeks to tackle the demand side by discouraging people from even visiting prostitutes. The clause, if included in the Bill, would make paying for sexual services an offence. CARE recommends that this new clause is inserted into the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill in order to enhance its reform of prostitution law.
Please consider writing to members of the committee who are scrutinising the Bill. You could write to:
- Mr Vernon Coaker MP who is Under Secretary of State in the Home Office and needs to know this is an issue of concern.
- Perhaps you could also write to David Burrowes MP. He is a Christian MP who is in favour of the motion and needs our support.
Please Pray for all those caught up in prostitution. Pray that men in particular will open their hearts and minds to the truth about the tragic stories of young girls who are smuggled into sexual slavery and will choose to stop paying for sex.
Further Prayer and Action
For further insights on these and other issues The Evangelical Alliance Public Affairs department produces a monthly parliamentary magazine, PQ, and a monthly ‘Prayer and Campaigns’ action and prayer sheet. Both of these are available on our website www.eauk.org along with topical political briefing material. If you have any questions please e-mail the public affairs team at: pub-aff@eauk.org
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