Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
London (Agenzia Fides) - “We are deeply disappointed that no exemption will be granted to our agencies on the grounds of widely held religious conviction and conscience" Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor Cormac, Archbishop of Westminster and president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, in a statement following the government’s rejection of a request for Catholic adoption agencies to be exempt from considering same sex couples as possible adoptive parents. The Bishops and other prominent citizens The Cardinal’s request was backed by Archbishop Mario Conti of Glasgow, vice president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, who wrote to Mr Blair asking him to amend the proposed sexual orientation regulations so that Catholic adoption agencies will not be compelled to place children with same sex couples (see Fides 24/1/2007). The Equality Act, if approved by parliament in March should go into force in April. One of its purposes is
Cardinal O'Connor Cormac said the debate “raised crucial issues for the common good of our society. We believe there is an urgent task to reach a new consensus on how best the public role of religious organisations can be safeguarded and their rights upheld". He expressed appreciation for “the two year period that will be established for independent assessment. We note that one of its purpose will be to ‘ensure the valuable expertise of faith-based adoption agencies in successfully placing the most vulnerable children, including the full range of post-adoption services, is retained and developed’ (Terms of Reference). The Cardinal concluded “An important part of our Catholic tradition is to work constructively with the government in mutually respectful cooperation in which we can act with confidence and integrity in the service of the common good". (RG) (Agenzia Fides 2/2/2007; righe 21, parole 290)
