Monday, July 23, 2007

Bishop of Lancaster: Catholics cannot cooperate with gay adoption

Briefing: local expressions of support would be good. The attempt by any diocese to use the 'arms-length' approach must be resisted for precisely the reason Bishop O'Donoghue gives: it would be proximate cooperation in a grave evil.

From CFNews: Firm stand by Lancashire bishop. Bishop Patrick O'Donoghue of Lancaster says he sees no way in which Catholic adoption agencies can survive under new equality laws. In a letter to priests and the Catholic Caring Services of his diocese, Bishop O'Donoghue said that the new Sexual Orientations Regulations (SORs), which could force adoption agencies to place children with homosexual couples, cannot be squared with a Catholic conscience. "Having studied the options', he wrote, 'I cannot see how we can accept the legislation, even under duress." He rejected the possibility, currently being considered in some dioceses, of an "arms-length" solution, in which the Church would remove itself from direct involvement in its adoption agencies. "An arms-length approach ... seems to involve cooperation in something that we oppose," said the bishop. "Nor can I see a way of committing an initial Church contribution to setting up such an agency. I favour rejection, thus withdrawal from adoption and fostering from December 2008 if all else fails." In response to the letter a spokesman for the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales said that the Church's position on adoption agencies had not changed and that Bishop O'Donoghue's letter represented "his own views". In his letter Bishop O'Donoghue urged the faithful to submit their comments to him on the matter.

[Bishop O'Donoghue's address is Bishop's Apartment, Cathedral House, Balmoral Road, Lancaster LA 1 3BT. Tel 01524 32231. Fax 01524 849296]

1 comment:

John Kearney said...

The position of the Church should not be just to safeguard their own agencies but to oppose adoption by homosexuals `per se`. I watched a four minute video of a Gay Pride March. It was full of pornography, obscenity, maked bodies, anti-catholic propoganda. There were children watching not only in the crowd but also taking part. Is this corrupption of young people what we want. Go into a gay bookshop, you will find the books at the front but most gays make their way to the hard porn videos at the back. Hosexuality is about the sin of lust. That any group of people such as those at the Soho Masses should walk in this sick display saying they are proud to be catholic then going to Mass and Holy Communion is the work of the devil. That the Cardinal should allow it is a mockery of the Catholic Faith.

Pope Leo XIII's Prayer to St Michael

Holy Michael, Archangel, defend us in the day of battle. Be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, thrust down to Hell Satan, and all wicked spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls. Amen