Politics
Thursday April 6, 2006
See today's LifeSiteNews stories
Scotland Bishop Says Homosexual Adoption Being Pushed by “Politically Correct Zealots”
By Gudrun Schultz
SCOTLAND, United Kingdom, April 6, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The Bishop of Motherwell, Joseph Devine, one of Scotland’s most senior Roman Catholic leaders, accused the Scottish government of devolving into a group of “politically correct zealots” by supporting legislation allowing same-sex couples to adopt, in a letter to the first minister last February.
The controversial Adoption (Scotland) Bill, published last week, would allow unmarried partners, either heterosexual or homosexual, to adopt children so long as they are in an “enduring family relationship.” Under current Scottish law, only one member of an unmarried partnership can legally adopt a child.
Bishop Devine described the proposed legislation as “yet another violation of family life,” in a letter to first minister Jack McConnell earlier this year. He stressed that the traditional family unit provided the best environment for the emotional and psychological health of a child.
McConnell responded to Bishop Devine’s accusation in a strongly worded letter, saying, “We do not give preferential treatment to gay couples over heterosexual couples or ‘promote the interests of alternative homosexual lifestyles over traditional family,’” the Herald reported Monday.
“I reject absolutely any suggestion our policies are designed to damage the institution of marriage or the important role of Christian churches in Scotland. Adoption would only be permitted where it is clearly in the best interests of the child.”
Bishop Devine said he was disappointed by the response. “The first minister was asked to be the children’s champion and drop this bill. He refused,” the bishop said.
“He has also rejected the proposal to put the issue to the test in a referendum. Now [Members of Scottish Parliament] will have the opportunity to vote the bill down. The vast majority of the electorate will stand and applaud those who do so.”
See previous LifeSiteNews coverage:
Scotland Bishop Blasts Parliament Decision to Allow Gay Adoption
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/feb/06022703.html
Scot Cardinal: Gay Adoption Makes Children “Guinea Pigs in Some Distorted Social Experiment”
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/jan/06011608.html
Back to TopSHARE THIS STORY: E-mail Print Newsvine Digg Reddit Del.icio.us Facebook
Latest Headlines
- By the Numbers: The Ten Most Popular LifeSiteNews.com Stories of 2008
- Kissinger on Obama: "The Reception of Him is So Extraordinary Around The World ... a New World Order Can Be Created"
- Doctors Who Refuse Assisted Suicide “Genuinely Wicked” says UK Bioethics “Philosopher Queen”
- President Bush Urges Republicans to Defend Culture of Life
- Doctor of Dogmatic Theology and Ob/Gyn Condemn Early Induction Abortions at Catholic Hospital in London Ontario
- Carleton University Pro-Life Group to Host Silent No More Campaign after Two Years of Opposition from Student Association
- Greek Bishop Sues Homosexualist Group for Defamation
- Medical Expert Says that Contraceptive Pill is Causing Global Rise in Male Infertility
- Interview: Retired Pontifical Academy for Life Head Launches New Pro-life Initiative
- Eluana Englaro Sentenced to Death without Medical Examination Charge Italian Activists
- New Jersey Rules against Christian Group that Declined to Host Lesbian Civil Union Ceremony
- Outspokenly Orthodox, Pro-life Archbishop Takes Over in Vancouver Diocese
Most Read this Week
- Vatican Newspaper Publishes Article Detailing Birth Control Pill as Cause of Abortion and Cancer
- Abortion Group Ipas Defends Abortion Targeting Unborn Girls
- Obama Selects Yet another Pro-Abortion "Catholic" for Leading Office
- Mother Refuses All Further "Parental" Visits with Daughter by Former Lesbian Partner as Trial Looms
- NBC Boots Top Conservative Pundit Ann Coulter from Today Show, Quickly Rebooks Following Uproar
- Outspokenly Orthodox, Pro-life Archbishop Takes Over in Vancouver Diocese
- New Survey Finds Only 9% of Americans Support Unrestricted Abortion
- Doctors Urge Puberty Blockers for Children Considering Sex Change
- French UN “Sexual Orientation” Push Linked to Radical Yogyakarta Principles
- New Jersey Rules against Christian Group that Declined to Host Lesbian Civil Union Ceremony
MORE NEWS: 
LifeSiteNews.com Home Page Last 10 Days Archives Special Reports
Copyright © LifeSiteNews.com. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivatives License. You may republish this article or portions of it without request provided the content is not altered and it is clearly attributed to "LifeSiteNews.com". Any website publishing of complete or large portions of original LifeSiteNews articles MUST additionally include a live link to www.LifeSiteNews.com. The link is not required for excerpts. Republishing of articles on LifeSiteNews.com from other sources as noted is subject to the conditions of those sources.