Catholic bishop enters abortion debate

A CATHOLIC archbishop entered the political row over abortions and designer babies yesterday, saying MPs should be made accountable for decisions which affect the "innocent and vulnerable" in society.

Vincent Nichols, the Archbishop of Birmingham, called on parishioners at St Chad's Cathedral in the city to keep the issue alive in the run-up to the General Election to end the "dreadful" situation of Britain's abortion laws.

Last week, Prime Minister Tony Blair declared that religion should not play a central role in a general election campaign and said it would be "unhealthy" if religion held centre stage in British politics as it does in the USA.