Read the full sermon on Ruth Gledhill's Articles of Faith blog

The Government is heading for its biggest confrontation with the Roman Catholic Church to date over its controversial new laws which will allow the creation of human-animal hybrid embryos.

A senior Cardinal condemned the plans as “monstrous” and of “Frankenstein proportion”.

Cardinal Keith O’Brien will use his Easter Sunday sermon to launch a scathing attack on the human fertilisation and embryology bill, describing the proposals as “grotesque” and “deathly”.

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He will tell worshippers at St Mary’s Cathedral in Edinburgh: “One might say that in our country we are about to have a public Government endorsement of experiments of Frankenstein proportion – without many people really being aware of what is going on.”

In his sermon, the text of which was released today, he adds: “It is difficult to imagine a single piece of legislation which more comprehensively attacks the sanctity and dignity of human life than this particular bill.”

He will say: “If I were preaching this homily in France, Germany, Italy, Canada or Australia, I would be commending the government for rightly banning such grotesque procedures. However, here in Great Britain I am forced to condemn our Government for not only permitting but encouraging such hideous practices.

“This Bill represents a monstrous attack on human rights, human dignity and human life. In some other European countries, one could be jailed for doing what we intend to make legal.”

The Cardinal’s remarks come amid growing anger against the Prime Minister over his refusal to offer a free vote on the issue. At least one Catholic minister is understood to be considering his position as a result.

The failure to persuade the Government to grant a free vote on the Bill has caused a “tremendous amount of bad feeling” in the Cabinet, particularly between Geoff Hoon the Chief Whip and Welsh Secretary Paul Murphy, a devout Catholic, a source told The Times.

The Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, has urged the Government to allow a free vote on the Bill to respect the consciences of Catholic MPs. Senior Catholics in the Cabinet also include Defence Secretary Des Browne and Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly. Northern Ireland minister Paul Goggins is also unhappy about the Bill’s contents.

A delegation of Labour MPs, including some non-Catholics who have large numbers of Catholics in their constituencies, have been told they will be able to meet Brown to discuss a free vote but are still awaiting a date.