Category - gay adoption

Head of Catholic marriage charity urges equality for gay couples

staff writers — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 07:45:38 +0100

Gay couples can lay equal claim to their married heterosexual counterparts when bringing up children in stable relationships, according to the head of a Catholic charity that supports marriage.

Church of England concerned that equality bill will reduce its influence

staff writers — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 02:33:59 +0100

Preserving religious freedom, including the right to manifest diverse beliefs, is a cornerstone of an open, liberal and tolerant society, the C of E Archbishops’ Council says in its response to proposals for a Single Equality Bill. Others say the Church is being too defensive.

Scottish Catholic bishops launch election attack on government

staff writers — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 02:13:00 +0100

Furious at government policy on gay adoptions and other issues, Scotland's Catholic bishops have sent a letter round to churches with a thinly-veiled call for a anti-Labour vote in the the forthcoming elections.

How will they know we are Christians?

Jonathan Bartley — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 14:38:52 +0000

The announcement that there will be no opt-out for Catholic adoption agencies from the Sexual Orientation Regulations, has been interpreted as posing a threat to the involvement of churches in public life.

Evangelical leader welcomes UK equalities legislation

staff writers — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 17:54:52 +0000

A prominent evangelical Christian, the Rev Malcolm Duncan, who heads up the Faithworks movement ‚Ä' which is involved in public service provision ‚Ä' has welcomed the Sexual Orientation Regulations (SORs) that some Catholic and Anglican leaders have described as compromising their consciences.

Wrong debate, wrong language

Malcolm Duncan — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 12:19:13 +0000

Tony Blair announced on Monday (29th January 2007) that faith-based adoption agencies will not have special exemptions from the new Sexual Orientation Regulations, but that they will have a ‚Äòtransition period' of 21 months before the SORs come fully into force at the end of 2008. He also paid tribute to the work of agencies motivated by religious faith, and stated that it was important to ensure that the expertise and services of these groups was not lost.

Knowing Christians by their love (not their opt-outs), Thought for the Day, BBC Radio 4, 31st January 2007

Press Office — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 09:15:26 +0000

The announcement that there will be no opt-out for Catholic adoption agencies from the

LGCM says children must come first in adoption matters

staff writers — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 17:42:22 +0000

The Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement (LGCM) has given a broad welcome to Prime Minister Tony Blair's proposal that adoption agencies currently operating under restrictions imposed by Roman Catholic bishops should be given 21 months to find a way of continuing to serve children without discriminating against lesbian and gay couples.

Cardinal raises debate about church-government relations after adoption row

staff writers — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 17:39:01 +0000

Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor, Archbishop of Westminster and the most senior figure in the Catholic Church in England and Wales, has claimed that the government's decision to refuse the Church an opt out from anti-discrimination legislation threatens the voluntary work of all churches.

Adoption row highlights need for rethink of church-state relations

Press Office — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 16:51:47 +0000

Responding to comments from Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor, Archbishop of Westminster and the most senior figure in the Catholic Church in England and Wales, the independent UK religious think-tank Ekklesia says it is a mistake to automatically conflate church-based initiatives in civil society with government-sponsored services.