When it comes to possible advancements in science, it’s usually religionists who are first in line to complain. In this case, it’s the Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly and the new Welsh Secretary Paul Murphy – Catholics both – who are leading calls for a free vote on the UK Parliament’s Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill.

The sticking point for them is the creation of human–animal hybrid embryos (embryos, note) to allow scientists to look for ways of combating terminal illnesses.

The Catholics also don’t like provisions in the Bill for children to be born by IVF without a father’s involvement. Now there may be sensible views on either side concerning whether a father should be considered when children are being created, and it may not always be Catholics who object (although it’s usually religious objections that are brought to the fore by the media). But their objection to embryo research seems mainly to be based on superstitious notions that humans are setting out to do what only God should do – and that’s where we meet irrationality.

The Observer, among others, carries the story:

Kelly recently met Geoff Hoon, Labour’s chief whip, to ask for voting restrictions to be removed from much, if not all, of the bill. At the moment MPs will only be allowed a free vote on any amendments that are tabled on abortion. Defence Secretary Des Browne is also understood to have concerns. All three ministers are prominent Catholics. Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, leader of Britain’s four million Catholics, has condemned the bill as “profoundly wrong” because it “radically undermines the place of the father in a child’s life”.

Paul Goggins, a Northern Ireland Office minister, is another to have raised the matter with Hoon. Labour sources say three whips – Tommy McAvoy, Frank Roy and Tony Cunningham – also have serious ethical problems with at least some of the bill. All four are Catholics.

Votes in the Lords on the Bill were whipped to secure its safe passage. Any MPs voting against it in the Commons, or abstaining, could face the ire of the whips. A delegation of Labour MPs linked to the All-Party Parliamentary Pro-Life Group are due to meet Prime Minister Gordon Brown soon to express their concerns.