Cardinal raps embryo plans again

The leader of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland is expected to launch another attack on the Government's controversial embryo research plans.

Cardinal Keith O'Brien is due to speak out against the proposals for the creation of human-animal hybrid embryos when he addresses a public meeting in the Fife town of Kirkcaldy.

The Cardinal, who has suffered poor health in recent weeks, was released from hospital after having a pacemaker fitted.

He has already been fiercely critical of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, describing the plans as "monstrous".

In his Easter Sunday sermon, the senior churchman also claimed such legislation - which supporters claim could help find cures for diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis - could lead to experiments of "Frankenstein proportion".

The meeting is taking place in the hall at St Bryce Kirk in Kirkcaldy, the church where Prime Minister Gordon Brown's father, a Church of Scotland minister, used to preach.

The Cardinal, who is Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh, will be joined by independent crossbench peer, Lord Alton of Liverpool.

The Cardinal, 70, who has had a heart murmur since his 20s, was admitted to hospital on Wednesday after suffering dizzy spells and fainting before Palm Sunday mass.

His spokesman, Peter Kearney, said he was now in "very good health" and intended to continue with his planned engagements.

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