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Friday, 2 January 2009

Halfway there

The BBC tells us that half of the Roman Catholic adoption agencies who said they’d rather close than allow same-sex couples to adopt children will now abide by the law. And that’s as it should be. What about the other half?

“The agencies were given an 21-month exemption from the anti-discrimination laws,” says the Beeb, “which came into effect in 2007, but that expired on 1 January.”

The religionists said the law, which makes it illegal to discriminate against gay applicants, went against their beliefs. The BBC story continues:

Five of the 11 agencies will now comply with the rules, while one is to close.

When the Equality Act became law in April 2007 in England, Wales and Scotland, it banned discrimination against homosexual people in the provision of goods and services, which incorporated adoption agencies.

The BBC’s religious affairs correspondent Robert Pigott said the Roman Catholic church denounced the regulations, claiming the rights of one group – gay people – were being placed above those of another – Christians.

As is to be expected, Mike Judge from the rabidly homophobic Christian Institute said agencies were being forced to turn their back on their faith. Tough. They’re there to provide a service, and a kids’ quality of life is far more important than a belief in sky fairies.

Judge told BBC Radio Five Live, “I think it’s iconic of a situation where you’ve got a clash between sexual-orientation rights and religious rights where, in almost every circumstance I’ve been aware of, religious rights have been seen to play second fiddle.”

Well you’re conveniently forgetting, Mr Judge, that sexuality is not a matter of choice. You do choose to believe in your mojo.

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