Adoption. Forget Catholics vs Gays, its actually about the children.

9.38.00am GMT Sat 27th Jan 2007

There is a bit of a furore over the Catholic Church's stance over gay* adoption. As you may be aware the Government has, rightly, passed a law banning discrimination against gay* people and provided a more equal society for goods, services and also things like adoption. First there was a bit of a row over boarding houses and now the debate has turned to adoption, the Catholic Church say it is incompatible with their beliefs to allow a gay couple to adopt through one of their adoption agencies.

The row over adoption annoys me, it annoys me greatly. Firstly the Catholic Church is not above the law if the Government of this country passes a law then it is the duty of everyone and every organisation in the country to accept that. Secondly I am almost certain that virtually no gay couples would go to the Catholic Church to adopt a child. So why the big fuss - I suspect both sides are trying to ensure there is as much anger over this as possible can't they both just get on with life on this one.

Alex Wilcock has written about this debate, link below, he has also written a number of other articles on the role of the Church, I don't agree with everything Alex has said but it is certainly worth reading.

What I do care about in this debate is the children that need a home and those that wish to adopt. I have family experience of adoption and I know it is a very long and hard process. The parents have to, again rightly, go through a very invasive and difficult process that is long and hard and also physically draining. If a couple, or indeed an individual, successfully complete this process then I don't care if they are straight, gay or whatever they should be allowed to adopt if a child that would benefit from their support, love and care is available to be placed with them.

• For the purpose of this post gay can be taken to mean gay men, lesbian women, bisexual men or women or anyone that defines as anything other than heterosexual.

Related Link:

Read Alex Wilcock's view