Catholic charity loses anti-gay fight
By politics.co.uk staff
A Catholic charity has lost a legal battle over whether it must open up the adoption process to gay couples.
Catholic Care tried to have itself exempted from the provisions of the Equalities Act, which outlaws discrimination in the provision of goods and services.
Religious groups were given a 21-month transition period when the rules came into force, after a row over the issue alarmed then-prime minister Tony Blair, who became a Catholic shortly after leaving Downing Street.
The high court wanted the Charities Commission to reconsider the case but it soon decided that religious views did not exempt charities from complying with the legislation.
“The charity is very disappointed with the outcome,” Catholic Care said.
“Catholic Care will now consider whether there is any other way in which the charity can continue to support families seeking to adopt children in need.
“In any event, Catholic Care will seek to register as an adoption support agency offering a service to those who were adopted in the past and are now seeking information about their background, and also to support adoptive parents already approved by Catholic Care.”
The Commission said homosexuals were suitable parents and that religious views could not justify acts of discrimination.
