The next step in Britain’s totalitarian non-discrimination regime: Christian couples can’t adopt

Owen and Eunice Johns are a black couple who are Pentacostal Christians and disapprove of homosexuality. Three years ago, the Derby City Council rejected them as prospective foster parents because they would never tell children a homosexual lifestyle was acceptable.

Mrs Johns said: ‘The council said: “Do you know, you would have to tell them that it’s OK to be homosexual?”

‘But I said I couldn’t do that because my Christian beliefs won’t let me. Morally, I couldn’t do that. Spiritually I couldn’t do that.’

The Pentecostal Christian couple from Derby, who have fostered almost 20 children, are not homophobic, according to the Christian Legal Centre, which has taken up their case.

But they are against sex before marriage and do not recognise as marriage civil partnerships between gay couples.

Now the case is going to court.

Let us recall the fundamental principle of Britain’s Sexual Orientation Regulations: there shall be no discrimination as to sexual orientation in the provisions of goods and services in Britain—period. Now, for a local council or an adoption agency to approve as adoptive or foster parents a Christian couple who disapprove of homosexuality would clearly be allowing discrimination as to sexual orientation in the provision of a good or service, since awarding adoption is certain a service, and I think we could also say that parenthood is certainly a service, indeed the most important service there is. Therefore, as long as the Sexual Orientation Regulations remain in place, I don’t see how the Johns can win the case, unless the court simply makes an unprincipled exception for them.

But notice the reasoning in the below article, by Israel Jackson in the Christian Law Journal. Jackson says that the Johns are being discriminated against, and therefore they should win the case. He is missing the point. The Equality Laws and the Sexual Orientation Regulations do not protect Christians from discrimination on the basis of being anti-homosexual. They protect homosexuals from discrimination on the basis of being homosexual. And they allow no exceptions.

England’s Courts To Decide If Christians Can Adopt Children

In the United Kingdom, the high court will have to decide whether or not Christians are ‘fit people’ for adopting or fostering children.

This case could render a verdict of historical proportions as a question was raised following the acknowledgement of homosexual rights by the Derby City Council. The Derby City Council is now asking the court to interpret the Sexual Orientation Regulations and the Equality Act in order to settle a dispute between The Council and the Johns.

The Johns have shown themselves to be devoted Christians, who oppose homosexual rights, and have been punished by legislation that seeks to bring about equality amongst all sexual orientations. Unfortunately, this long sought equality inevitably places homosexual rights above the rights of others.

Going back to January of 2007, the Johns sought to adopt a child who is between the ages of 5 and 10, and because of their Christian views on homosexuality and regular church attendance, a social worker saw the home of the Johns as an unfit environment for the child and withdrew them from the process in August of 2007. This is clearly political seeing that the need for more adoptive parents in Derby is rising and has been for a decade. In fact, The Derby Telegraph launched a website on the matter.

Andrea Minichiello-Williams, a barrister and director of the Christian Legal Center, stated:

“The Johns are a loving Christian couple, who have in the past, and would in the future; give a wonderful home to a vulnerable child. Research clearly establishes that children flourish best in a family with both a mother and father in a committed relationship, like the Johns have.”

It is clear that the Johns are being discriminated against and if not recognized, every Christian in the UK will be denied the right to adopt. The ruling of this case shall be given within the next few days.

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Karl D. writes:

It would be interesting to see if the John’s solicitor can find evidence of devout Muslim couples who have fostered or adopted children? After all, they are not big fans of homosexuals.

N. writes:

It will be interesting to see what happens when Moslems try to adopt through the government, because no devout Moslem will tolerate the pro-homosexual message required.

But wait, Moslems are also the preferred minority today in Britain. Some sort of unprincipled exception will have to be made, and I wager it won’t be for Christians.

Posted by Lawrence Auster at November 08, 2010 01:11 PM | Send