Do Catholic Leaders Try To Influence Catholic MPs’ Conscience Votes? A Case Study on Therapeutic Cloning

Authors

  • Mitchell Landrigan University of Technology Sydney

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1558/jasr.31533

Keywords:

religion, conscience voting, therapeutic cloning

Abstract

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.

Author Biography

  • Mitchell Landrigan, University of Technology Sydney
    Mitchell Landrigan is a Visiting Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Technology Sydney. His PhD (UNSW) (constitutional law) explored the protections under the Australian Constitution for expression about religion and by religious leaders. Mitchell is a member of the Media & Communications Committee of the Law Council of Australia, a member of the Public Law Committee of the Law Society of NSW, a member of the Australian Association of Constitutional Law and a Research Affiliate with the Research Unit for the Study of Society, Law and Religion, University of Adelaide. He is a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of NSW and of the High Court of Australia.

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Published

2017-07-19

Issue

Section

Articles

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

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