07/29/2008
UK Catholic Adoption Agencies Will Reluctantly Consider Gays
Because of anti-discrimination laws, the largest Catholic Adoption in England and Wales will adopt a new policy that won't rule out same-sex couples as adoptive parents:
"The move will undoubtedly be seen as controversial in some quarters. In January 2007, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor wrote to the-then Prime Minister Tony Blair suggesting that Catholic adoption agencies in England and Wales would be forced to close down if they were not allowed to opt out of new gay rights laws, which he said contradicted Catholic teaching. The cardinal said forcing people to act against their consciences would mean discrimination on the grounds of belief, adding that it would be an 'unnecessary tragedy' if Catholic agencies were forced to close. In the cardinal's Westminster archdiocese, the Catholic Children's Society has opted to mount a legal challenge to the regulations by amending its constitution. But A&BSP, which prepares between 40-50 potential adoptive parents a year, has instead decided to comply with them."
However, that doesn't mean they have to approve them. Said Terry Connor, chief executive of the society: "I suspect if a same-sex couple arrives at any of the agencies just to test out the system, they will not get very far."
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Posted 8:52 AM EST by Andy Towle in Catholic Church, Gay Adoption, Great Britain, News, Wales | Permalink
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"I suspect if a same-sex couple arrives at any of the agencies just to test out the system, they will not get very far."
And I suspect that if a pattern of illegal discrimination is proven by these denied applicants, then the administrators of the program will be fined or imprisoned.
Yup, they have the right to discriminate. But now that it's illegal, they'll have to deal with the consequences of exercising that right. That now includes prosecution.
Posted by: The Milkman | Jul 29, 2008 9:04:23 AM
Forcing the legal activities of religion and their doctrines within their organizations is not going to help win our cause in the US.
I do not wish to legally force any church or religious organization to "marry" my partner and me in their church! I want the civil right to have my relationship recognized and all legal rights that acompany that recognition. I want my partner to NOT be considered a legal stranger but I do not agree with forcing the activities of churches to comply with my civil requirements.
There is separation of church and state for this very reason. You cannot ask people to step through their faith and simply open their arms and say I give up when it comes to their religious services/practices and beliefs. I do not want to be married in my former church. They do not agree with my being gay. I am ok with that so long as I have the legal and civil right to my relationship that bears equal rights to all relationships.
While we cannot dictate what happens in Sunday morning services, we should be able to have civil marriage, and civil rights, and the ability to adopt! There should be no laws prohibiting our rights to becoming parents.
I would not go to agencies that I knew I was not welcome anyway. But then again I do that in every aspect of life. It is not exactly like I show up at redneck bars in South Georgia, or anywhere else, on a Saturday night! It just isn't smart!
Posted by: RB | Jul 29, 2008 9:34:09 AM
UK Catholics: "Gay adoption--marginally better than abortion!" YAY!
Posted by: David D. | Jul 29, 2008 10:22:15 AM
What idiot put documented child rapists in charge of adoption?!?
Posted by: John in Manhattan | Jul 29, 2008 10:23:57 AM
I don't see the Vatican bending on this issue. Right now, anti-discrimination laws in the UK are a mess thanks to Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. Without a first amendment, they've gone and created catch-22's all over the law.
Posted by: anon | Jul 29, 2008 12:54:27 PM