Religious adoption agency seeks exemption from Equality Bill

A religious adoption charity has gone to court to seek an exemption from the regulations of the new Equality Bill, which it says would force it to comply with views that it did not believe in.

Catholic Care is seeking to be free to refuse adoption to same-sex couples because it believes that a proper family unit should be "made up of a man and woman whose lives together are fulfilled by the blessing of children".

Christopher McCall QC, representing the adoption agency, said: "Since the introduction of the regulations under the Equality Act there is perceived to be a barrier in the way of the charity.

"To make its services available to same-sex couples even though this would conflict with tenets on which it has based its work."

The agency says that any discrimination would be justifiable due to the good work carried out in helping children.

Meanwhile, a recent amendment to the Equality Bill is forcing religious establishments to allow civil partnerships to take place on their premises.

Posted by David Ekundayo

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