U.K. Muslim group backs churches in gay adoption row
Last Updated: Thursday, January 25, 2007 | 5:23 PM ET
CBC News
Britain's major Muslim group joined the Anglican and Catholic churches Thursday in backing a plea to exempt Catholic adoption services from new government legislation that bans discrimination against homosexual couples.
The Muslim Council of Britain said it opposes the government's Equality Act, which would prevent adoption agencies from turning away gay or lesbian couples.
The legislation is due to take effect in April, but has sparked tremendous controversy in Britain.
The Muslim organization said Thursday it "fully supports the principled stand taken by the leaders of the Catholic and Anglican Churches." Islam forbids homosexuality.
Rather than bow to the law, the Catholic Church has threatened to shut down its adoption services, which process about a third of the adoptions in England and Wales. The shutdown would affect about 4,000 children who are still awaiting placements.
Although Prime Minister Tony Blair was said to be leaning towards siding with the Catholic Church, the move would have caused outrage within his party.
Education Minister Alan Johnson, whose portfolio includes dealing with adoption services, said Blair saw no case for the Catholic Church to get special treatment and be exempted from the law.
Blair said that, while he favoured the right of adoption by gay couples, he also wanted to ensure the Catholic agencies continued to work.
He said the government would make a decision next week.
