Human Fertilisation & Embryology

In June 2007 the Mission & Public Affairs Council made a response to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on the Draft Human Tissue and Embryos Bill. In its response, the Council gave a cautious acceptance to the proposal to produce cytoplasmic hybrid embryos for research into the alleviation of serious diseases. However, it accused the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee of a 'serious disregard for ethics in favour of seeking scientific knowledge by all available means'. 

The MPA Council also made a response to a HFEA consultation on hybrids and chimeras in July 2007.

The most recent Synod debate on embryology was held in July 2003. Synod unanimously carried the following motion:

'That this Synod:

1. affirm the sanctity of the human embryo and therefore the need to treat it with profound respect;
2. recognise that there are different but principled and sincerely held views among Christians on the morality of embryo research;
3. welcome the paper Embryo Research: some Christian Perspectives (GS 1511) as a helpful contribution to Christian reflection and debate on issues relating to the status of the embryo and its therapeutic potential;
4. call upon members of the Church of England to continue to engage with the scientific community, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, and Her Majesty's Government so as to ensure the ethical imperatives in embryo research are never forgotten; and
5. ask the Mission and Public Affairs Council to provide a list of resource publications and possible speakers to assist moral and theological reflection on this issue.'

The Report can be accessed by clicking on the following link - Embryo Research: Some Christian Perspectives.

Other issues

In 2003 the Board for Social Responsibility responded to the consultation of the HFEA on Sex Selection can be accessed by the following link - Sex Selection.

There have been also been responses in the 2000s to consultations on gamete and embryo donation and stem cell research.

Surrogacy

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 did not specifically outlaw surrogacy but it did state that no financial arrangements surrounding a surrogacy agreement could be legally binding. In 1998 the Science, Medicine and Technology Sub-Committee of the Board responded to a Department of Health consultation on surrogacy.

Cloning

Human reproductive cloning was made unlawful by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990. Few members of the Church of England would dissent from such a position. However, therapeutic cloning may be thought of as ethical, as it does not result in another human being.

In 2000 the Board for Social Responsibility produced a briefing paper on Therapeutic Uses of Cell Nuclear Replacement which can be accessed here.