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| Churches unite over adoption row | Churches unite over adoption row |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The Church of England has backed the Catholic Church in its bid to be exempt from laws on adoption by gay couples. | The Church of England has backed the Catholic Church in its bid to be exempt from laws on adoption by gay couples. |
| Catholic leaders in England and Wales say its teachings prevent its agencies placing children with homosexuals and they will close if bound by the rules. | Catholic leaders in England and Wales say its teachings prevent its agencies placing children with homosexuals and they will close if bound by the rules. |
| Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams and his counterpart in York, John Sentamu, have written to the PM. | Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams and his counterpart in York, John Sentamu, have written to the PM. |
| They say "rights of conscience cannot be made subject to legislation, however well-meaning". | They say "rights of conscience cannot be made subject to legislation, however well-meaning". |
| The Equality Act, due to come into effect in England, Wales and Scotland in April, outlaws discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities and services on the basis of sexual orientation. | The Equality Act, due to come into effect in England, Wales and Scotland in April, outlaws discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities and services on the basis of sexual orientation. |
| Matter of conscience | Matter of conscience |
| The archbishops said many people who do voluntary work are motivated by religious beliefs. | The archbishops said many people who do voluntary work are motivated by religious beliefs. |
| They point out exceptions have already been made for those whose conscience dictates they cannot take part in certain work, such as NHS doctors unwilling to perform abortions. | They point out exceptions have already been made for those whose conscience dictates they cannot take part in certain work, such as NHS doctors unwilling to perform abortions. |
| When you over legislate and intervene too much in people's private lives, in the long run you end up with a statute being used to cure all ills which it cannot Archbishop John Sentamu href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6293875.stm">In full: Anglican letter class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6290073.stm">In full: Catholic letter | |
| "In legislating to protect and promote the rights of particular groups the government is faced with the delicate but important challenge of not thereby creating the conditions within which others feel their rights to have been ignored or sacrificed, or in which the dictates of personal conscience are put at risk," they said. | "In legislating to protect and promote the rights of particular groups the government is faced with the delicate but important challenge of not thereby creating the conditions within which others feel their rights to have been ignored or sacrificed, or in which the dictates of personal conscience are put at risk," they said. |
| Archbishop Sentamu, speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, said: "The freedom of conscience cannot be made subject to legislation however well-meaning." | Archbishop Sentamu, speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, said: "The freedom of conscience cannot be made subject to legislation however well-meaning." |
| He said the Church was "absolutely" against discrimination. | He said the Church was "absolutely" against discrimination. |
| Referring to the head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor's letter calling for an opt-out for adoption agencies, Archbishop Sentamu said: "But it doesn't mean that on this particular issue about the adoption agency he hasn't got a case." | Referring to the head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor's letter calling for an opt-out for adoption agencies, Archbishop Sentamu said: "But it doesn't mean that on this particular issue about the adoption agency he hasn't got a case." |
| 'Legal spider's web' | 'Legal spider's web' |
| Archbishop Sentamu warned: "When you over legislate and intervene too much in people's private lives I think in the long run you end up with a statute being used to cure all ills which it cannot. | Archbishop Sentamu warned: "When you over legislate and intervene too much in people's private lives I think in the long run you end up with a statute being used to cure all ills which it cannot. |
| "And I think the danger is therefore that to spin a legal spider's web from which actually nobody can escape". | "And I think the danger is therefore that to spin a legal spider's web from which actually nobody can escape". |
| The row over whether Catholic adoption agencies should be exempt from the change in the law is said to have split the Cabinet. | The row over whether Catholic adoption agencies should be exempt from the change in the law is said to have split the Cabinet. |
| Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly, who is Catholic, is reported to be pushing for an exemption. | Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly, who is Catholic, is reported to be pushing for an exemption. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY Since when have the laws of England not applied to the church? Greg Skinner, Loughborough Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY Since when have the laws of England not applied to the church? Greg Skinner, Loughborough Send us your comments |
| Tony Blair was trying to find a way to address "the different concerns" of Catholics and gay rights groups, his official spokesman has said. | Tony Blair was trying to find a way to address "the different concerns" of Catholics and gay rights groups, his official spokesman has said. |
| But s number of ministers, including the Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer, have said that if society takes the view it does not discriminate against homosexuals, people could not be given exclusions on grounds of religion. | But s number of ministers, including the Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer, have said that if society takes the view it does not discriminate against homosexuals, people could not be given exclusions on grounds of religion. |
| BBC political editor Nick Robinson said many Cabinet members also appeared not to be prepared to concede on the issue. | BBC political editor Nick Robinson said many Cabinet members also appeared not to be prepared to concede on the issue. |
| The head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, has denied claims by secular and gay-rights activists who have accused him of using "blackmail" in a bid to secure exemptions. | The head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, has denied claims by secular and gay-rights activists who have accused him of using "blackmail" in a bid to secure exemptions. |
| The Catholic Church said it wants to continue its policy of referring gay couples to other adoption agencies. | The Catholic Church said it wants to continue its policy of referring gay couples to other adoption agencies. |