Maybe Baby

Quench considers the current gay adoption row and asks ‘what is best for the child?’

April sees the establishment of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights that was introduced in the last year as part of the government’s 2006 Equality Act. At the moment two-thirds of This Act has been passed and as it stands businesses, organisations, schools and other agencies are forbidden from refusing their services solely on the basis of gender,disability, age, religion and race.

The remaining third of the bill that is yet to be passed will extend the acts coverage to protect LGB individuals. This will mean all sections of society will be subject to an equal standard of human rights, and protected from discrimination. It also allows the government to run one organisation that deals with all equal rights and prevents all kinds of discrimination.

Anything circling human rights is bound to be surrounded with controversy. However, this act in particular has caused a bit of a stir. Recently Catholic adoption agencies have refused to give gay couples the right to use their organisation when looking to adopt a child. The Catholic faith is standing by its beliefs surrounding homosexuality, describing it as “intrinsically disordered.” Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, a figure-head of the British Catholic Church, has become extremely vocal on the subject stating only in a marital relationship between a man and a woman can a child be raised normally and effectively.

The reaction of the Catholic Church comes as no surprise; gay rights and religious groups never really have mixed well. (Anyone notice the nice Christian lady handing out anti-gay literature at Mardi Gras this year?) But the big surprise is that, despite his strong religious beliefs and background, Tony Blair has stood firm on the issue and has refused to give the Catholic Adoption Agencies an “opt-out option,” with many ministers apparently behind the new legislation.

Despite this looming confrontation the Catholic Adoption Agencies really cannot be ignored for their good work. These agencies are extremely popular and excel in finding ‘difficult- to-place children’ a loving home. If the Catholic agencies refuse to back down and are not given the option to opt-out then they will have no choice but to close and a great deal of children will be left homeless. As much as we want our beliefs and practices to be fully acknowledged and accepted in society shouldn’t we do the same for religious organisations despite their harsh views?

On the other hand, when the choice is between a child living with a loving gay couple or having no family at all I’m sure we would all agree that the first option is far better. Gay people have already proved that they can be as loving as any straight married couple (thanks to the Civil Partnership Act). So why can’t they care for a disadvantaged child as well?