U.K. bishops worry rules to protect gays could hurt adoption agencies

Published: 2006-07-12

LONDON (CNS) -- Catholic adoption agencies in Britain could be forced to close if legislators pass regulations to give gays and lesbians more rights, said the bishops of England and Wales. Church leaders are seeking exemptions to the British government's proposed sexual orientation regulations, designed to make discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation illegal in the same way as discrimination based on race or sex. The regulations were drawn up after homosexual couples complained of being refused hotel rooms. The bishops expressed concern that the exceptions envisaged in the proposals are "too limited" and that the church may find itself penalized by the courts. They expressed particular concern about their adoption agencies in the light of a 2003 Vatican document that said it would be "gravely immoral" to place children in the care of gay couples. In a submission to the government, obtained by Catholic News Service July 12, the bishops said they sought an exemption based on Catholic teaching that "gay and lesbian couples cannot be assessed as prospective adopters."

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