Catholic Care, a Catholic adoption agency operating in the diocese of Leeds, has appealed a ruling made by a Tribunal last month that they must offer their adoption services to homosexual couples.
The charity has long refused to place children with homosexual couples, stating that such a practice goes against the teaching of the Catholic Church and would result in a significant loss of funding, since most donors are Catholics themselves.
Benjamin James, the lawyer representing Catholic Care, said that he had identified a number of errors with the judgment. Catholic Care had previously argued that the Equality Act 2010 allows for discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation if it is 'a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim'. James stated that had they been given a clear explanation of how this exemption can and cannot be applied they may have been able to accept the decision but to date such an explanation has not been given.
If leave to appeal is granted, it will be the eighth stage of what has been a lengthy case.
Some commentators have come out in support of Catholic Care’s tenacity and see its case as highly significant in the current era of ‘equality’ legislation. The widely read conservative blogger Cranmer supports Catholic Care’s stand, stating that it “constitutes a fundamentally important point of religious liberty: when the state determines to outlaw centuries of orthodox belief and practice on the basis of 'equality', there is no logical end to what the state may impose upon believers”.
He also made the point that the charity only arranges five adoptions per year and so on this basis it is absurd to argue that homosexual couples are being discriminated against by it.
Andrea Minichiello Williams, CEO of the Christian Legal Centre, welcomed the news of Catholic Care’s appeal:
“At a time when many are being cowed into submission by the politically correct lobby, it is a breath of fresh air to hear of this charity’s continued stand against intolerance.”
Written by Peter Norris
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Catholic Care forced to offer adoption services to homosexual couples