English bishops will challenge law requiring equal adoption treatment for same-sex couples

CWN - March 01, 2010

Three English Catholic bishops are mounting a court challenge to a law that would require them to provide equal for same-sex couples treatment in adoption services.

Parliament in 2007 approved legislation that requires equal treatment in adoption. The Catholic Care agency, which arranges adoptions for "difficult to place" children, is contesting the validity of the law. Bishops Arthur Roche of Leeds, Bishop John Rawsthorne of Hallam, and Bishop Terry Drainey of Middlesbrough said that the 2007 law seems to require Catholic agencies to conduct their business "with disregard to the Church’s teaching on marriage and family life."

Unlike the American archdioceses of Boston and Washington, which discontinued adoption services in the face of similar legal requirements, the English bishops chose to fight the requirement in court. They explained: "Our position is that it is in the interests of children to continue our work."

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  • Posted by: rfwilliams2938 - Mar. 03, 2010 7:06 AM ET USA

    Laws like this do threaten religious liberty. However, the best interest of the child should be foremost. A husband & wife adoption is obviously the best option, but if only a gay couple is willing, then what? Isn't placing a child in a loving environment better than keeping the child in an institution or passing the child around foster parents? Yes, homosexuality is a gevious sin, but are husband & wife couples quizzed on their sins to determine if they are guilty of grevious sins?

  • Posted by: DrJazz - Mar. 01, 2010 8:47 PM ET USA

    Bravo to these Bishops for challenging an unjust law!

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