Chairman’s Announcements
The 3rd Reading of the Same Sex Marriage is taking place on 20th May with an accompanying prayer vigil outside.
Reference was made to Fiona Bruce’s Private Member’s Bill concerning mental capacity – topical in light of the Liverpool Care Pathway and related issues.
Presentation on the Catholic Legislators’ Network
Robert Flellow MP gave a short presentation on the Catholic Legislators’ Network, of which he is the convenor. It is presently an informal gathering of MPs, which has had talks on, amongst other things, Catholic Social Teaching and a speaker from the Universe newspaper. It is a mechanism to bring parliamentarians together – a recent focus has been same sex marriage. Two co-convenors have recently been appointed, Sarah Teather MP and Paul Maynard MP. It is hoped that the Network will not only be source of information gathering but also be of help to the Bishops’ Conference.
Third Reading of the marriage (same sex couples) Bill 20th May 2013
It was reported that there had been a meeting of MPs to decide who should move amendments as well as how to operate in an ordered manner on the day of the debate.