Do Catholic Leaders Try To Influence Catholic MPs’ Conscience Votes? A Case Study on Therapeutic Cloning
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1558/jasr.31533Keywords:
religion, conscience voting, therapeutic cloningAbstract
A conscience vote (or free vote) allows an MP to consider the merits of a parliamentary bill free from the constraints of his or her political party’s typical voting requirements. A free vote therefore allows MPs greater deliberative choice. The article reviews a case study – on therapeutic cloning – in which two Catholic leaders sought to influence state Catholic MPs’ conscience votes. The Catholic leaders did so by implying that Catholic politicians might be denied the Sacraments if the MPs did not oppose legislative reforms on therapeutic cloning. The article reviews the methods chosen by the Catholic leaders to influence MPs’ conscience votes and considers the responses of MPs to the Catholic leaders’ overtures.References
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Warhurst, J. 2008. Conscience Voting in the Australian Federal Parliament. Australian Journal of Politics and History 54(4): 579-86.
Australian Catholic Bishops Conference 2015. Don’t Mess with Marriage—A Pastoral Letter from the Catholic Bishops of Australia to all Australians on the ‘Same-sex Marriage’ Debate. Online: https://www.sydneycatholic.org/pdf/dmm-booklet_web.pdf (accessed 9 October 2016).
Balint, P., and C. Moir 2013. Understanding Conscience Vote Decisions: The Case of the ACT. Australasian Parliamentary Review 28(1): 43-56.
Brennan, F. 2007. Acting on Conscience: How Can We Responsibly Mix Law, Religion and Politics? University of Queensland Press, Brisbane.
Brisbane Times 2007. MPs to Probe Archbishop Stem Cell Threat. Online: http://news.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/mps-to-probe-archbishop-stem-cell-threat-20070607-h5g.html (accessed 7 April 2013).
CNN International 2005. Potential Seen in Adult Stem Cells. Online: http://edition.cnn.com/2005/TECH/science/03/21/australia.stemcell/ (accessed 15 October 2016).
Donaghey, C., and K. Galloway 2011. Analysing Conscience Votes in Parliament: Do Churches In?uence the Law? James Cook University Law Review 18: 84-112.
Dudley, S., T. John and J. Clarke 2006. Parliament of Australia Department of Parliamentary Services Bills Digest, Prohibition of Human Cloning for Reproduction and the Regulation of Human Research Amendment Bill 2006, No. 59 (2006–7), 6 December 2006. Online: http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/legislation/billsdgs/W6LL6/upload_binary/w6ll66.pdf;?leType=application%2Fpdf#search=%22legislation/billsdgs/W6LL6%22 (accessed 25 July 2013).
Ely, R. 1976. Unto God and Caesar: Religious Issues in the Emerging Commonwealth, 1891–1906. Melbourne University Press, Melbourne.
Evans, C. 2012. Legal Protection of Religious Freedom in Australia. The Federation Press, Leichhardt, NSW.
Fisher, A. (A/b) 2016. Same-Sex ‘Marriage’: Evolution or Deconstruction of Marriage and the Family? Australasian Catholic Record 93(2): 145-58.
Ford, N.M. 2008. Symposium: Religion in Assisted Reproduction: A Catholic Ethical Approach to Human Reproductive Technology. Ethics, Biomedicine and Life 3(3): 39-48.
Foucault, M. 1999. Religion and Culture, selected and edited by Jeremy R. Carrette, Manchester University Press, Manchester.
Frame, T. 2006. Church and State: Australia’s Imaginary Wall. UNSW Press, Sydney.
House of Lords 2001–2002. Stem Cell Research—Report, Session 2001–2. Online: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200102/ldselect/ldstem/83/8301.htm (accessed 25 July 2013).
Ismail, A. 2015. Stem Cell Research and Ethics: An Update. Oman Medical Journal 30(1): 1-2.
Jensen, D. 2008. Faith, Conscience and Legislation. University of Queensland Law Journal 27(2): 85-101.
Jones, G. 2008. Responses to the Human Embryo and Embryonic Stem Cells: Scienti?c and Theological Assessments. Science & Christian Belief 17(2): 199-222.
Kerry, R., S.M. Dodds, and R.A. Ankeny 2009. A Matter of Conscience? The Democratic Signi?cance of ‘Conscience Votes’ in Legislating Bioethics in Australia. Australian Journal of Social Issues 44(2): 121-44.
Lawton, W.J. 1990. The Better Time to Be—Utopian Attitudes to Society among Sydney Anglicans 1885–1914. UNSW Press, Sydney.
Lindsey, D. 2007. A Brief History of Conscience Voting in New Zealand. Paper Presented at the Australian Study of Parliament Group Conference, Adelaide, 23–25 August 2007.
Luxmore, J. 2016. European Church Leaders Fear Consequences of Brexit Vote. Catholic Herald (25 June). Online: http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2016/06/25/european-church-leaders-fear-consequences-of-brexit-vote/ (accessed 13 October 2016).
Maddox, M. 2001. For God and Country: Religious Dynamics in Australian Federal Politics. Department of the Parliamentary Library.
Maddox, M. 2005. God under Howard: The Rise of the Religious Right in Australian Politics. Allen & Unwin, London.
Maddox, M. 2014. Taking God to School. Allen & Unwin, London.
McKeown D., and R. Lundie 2009 Conscience Votes during the Howard Government 1996–2007. Online: http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp0809/09rp20 (accessed 27 April 2017).
Nicholls, S. 2016. Rebel Nationals MP Calls for Free Vote on Greyhound Racing Ban. Sydney Morning Herald (11 July). Online: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/rebel-nationals-mp-calls-for-free-vote-on-greyhound-racing-ban-20160711-gq335b.html (accessed 31 July 2016).
Parliament of NSW, Privileges Committee 2007. Report No. 38 (2007), Comments by Cardinal George Pell concerning the Human Cloning and Other Prohibited Practices Amendment Bill 2007, 1 and Appendices 2-4 and Cardinal Pell Response, 20 August 2007.
Parliament of Australia, Hansard n.d.. Online: http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Hansard (accessed 27 April 2017).
Parliament of NSW, Hansard n.d.. Online: https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/hansard/pages/home.aspx?tab=Browse&s=1 (accessed 27 April 2017).
Parliament of WA, Hansard n.d. . Online: http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/hansard/hansard.nsf/NewAdvancedSearch (accessed 27 April 2017).
Pell, G. (A/b) 2005. On the Dictatorship of Relativism. Edited version of National Press Club speech (21st September). Online: http://www.cardinalrating.com/cardinal_75__article_2172.htm (accessed 31 July 2016).
----- 2007. Media Release: No Catholic Could in Good Conscience Vote for Cloning Bill—NSW Bishops (4 June 2007).
Shannon, T.A., and J.J. Walter 2003. The New Genetic Medicine. Rowman & Little?eld, Lanham, MD.
US Catholic Bishops Conference 2005. Catholic Support for Ethically Responsible Stem Cell Research. Online: http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/stem-cell-research/catholic-support-for-ethically-acceptable-stem-cell-research.cfm (accessed 13 October 2016).
Warhurst, J. 2008. Conscience Voting in the Australian Federal Parliament. Australian Journal of Politics and History 54(4): 579-86.
Published
2017-07-19
Issue
Section
Articles
License
Equinox Publishing Ltd.
How to Cite
Landrigan, M. (2017). Do Catholic Leaders Try To Influence Catholic MPs’ Conscience Votes? A Case Study on Therapeutic Cloning. Journal for the Academic Study of Religion, 30(1), 73-91. https://doi.org/10.1558/jasr.31533
