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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Law 'threat' to Catholic adoption | Law 'threat' to Catholic adoption |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Catholic Church adoption agencies will close if they are not allowed to opt out of new gay rights laws, the head of the church in England and Wales says. | |
| Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor has written to the Cabinet to say church teaching prevented its agencies placing children with homosexual couples. | Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor has written to the Cabinet to say church teaching prevented its agencies placing children with homosexual couples. |
| He says forcing agencies to act against their consciences would constitute discrimination against Catholics. | He says forcing agencies to act against their consciences would constitute discrimination against Catholics. |
| The Equality Act is due to come into effect in April. | The Equality Act is due to come into effect in April. |
| It outlaws discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities and services on the basis of sexual orientation in a similar way to rules on sex and race discrimination. | It outlaws discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities and services on the basis of sexual orientation in a similar way to rules on sex and race discrimination. |
| 'Fight ahead' | 'Fight ahead' |
| Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor says Roman Catholic teaching about the foundations of family life rules out the choice of homosexual adoptive parents. | Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor says Roman Catholic teaching about the foundations of family life rules out the choice of homosexual adoptive parents. |
| The cardinal said the closure of the seven agencies would represent a wholly avoidable "tragedy". | The cardinal said the closure of the seven agencies would represent a wholly avoidable "tragedy". |
| Its agencies are said to handle 4% or about 200 of all adoptions a year but about a third of those children judged difficult to place. | Its agencies are said to handle 4% or about 200 of all adoptions a year but about a third of those children judged difficult to place. |
| BBC Religious Affairs Correspondent Robert Pigott said the letter suggests the Catholic Church is ready for a fight. | BBC Religious Affairs Correspondent Robert Pigott said the letter suggests the Catholic Church is ready for a fight. |
| Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly told the Commons the law was delayed because of the 3,000 responses to a consultation. | Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly told the Commons the law was delayed because of the 3,000 responses to a consultation. |
| A Department of Communities and Local Government spokesman said no decisions had yet been taken on detailed rules but there was "no question of preferential treatment for an individual faith". | A Department of Communities and Local Government spokesman said no decisions had yet been taken on detailed rules but there was "no question of preferential treatment for an individual faith". |