so because we're the catholic church, we should be allowed to discriminate

[wannaBeWhateverIWannaBe]

or we'll close our

adoption agencies

no, they are asking for an opt out.
if they don't get it, then they will stop dealing with adoption.
that's different.

having been drawn in against my better judgement...

• cardinal cormac murphy-o'connor's statement makes me sad and ashamed.

these views are not ime typical of catholics in this country - i certainly do not share them

• i think this issue has been very badly handled - why couldn't a transitional arrangement have been reached behind the scenes - given the relatively small numbers of adoptions involved couldn't something have been worked out?
• i think this is a very interesting and worthwhile debate not because of the specific issue involved, but because a democracy must engage in a process of debate when "rights" agreed by consensus come into conflict
• there is a vast amount of latent and open anti-catholicism in this country - this issue has given anti-catholics a justification for their prejudices.

Castration?

The beef is the fact that many don't like the catholic church having those beliefs in the first place.

for enid

i am sure lots of prejudices would be justified as "observations, personal experiences and historical fact".

castration of babies [shcok]

Well neither do I. And I am a catholic. But the issue here is gay adoption and whether catholic agencies shold have an opt out, not the church's views on homosexuality per se.

If you don't like the catholic churches rulings then don't join it.

The catholic adoption and fostering agency is there for catholics. If you want to adopt out of the church then you go through normal adoption agencies.

I don't agree with the Muslim church therefore I do not send my children to Muslim schools, I do not go to Muslim mosques and I do not follow their religion. It's that simple!

Respect folks.

I doubt many gay couples would go to a catholic adoption agency anyway

so isnt it a bit idiotic of cormac murphy o connor to make such a big deal out of it

This is such a non issue.

Why would a homosexual couple go to a Catholic agency to adopt? I sure they wouldn't and don't. They would use the other agencies available to them.

So the argument is about a situation which never arises.

The issues are interesting, but hypothetical.

Haven't the Governemet and catholic Church got better things to do?

Enid, imo that's the point. this legislation will have no real impact on the agencies...the catholic church is simply against it and is trying to sabotage it. despicable imo.

enid, the man's an eejit! and he covered up for a paedophile priest oh for someone like cardinal hume.

Oh, Snap! with Enid.

quite bk.

don't be agreeing with me, sophable, i'm one of the bad guys.

Cardinal Hume also covered up, or 'moved about' paed priests.

If thre legisaltion has no impact, why not let the catholic church opt out?
Everyones taking a stance about somthing which doesn't effect anyone, madness.

The catholic church are not trying to sabotage anything. They have their own agency which gay couples would not use as they would not want to bring their children up as catholic.

For them the point is religious.

This is such a pointless argument and will only end in DC and his catholic "every priest is a paedo" bashing.

How about a little respect here people? Not every catholic is evil you know!

why because you are catholic????

nominally so am i!!!!

doesn't make you a bad guy in the least does it.

oh rhubarb, but we are evil, didn't you know?

"mean minded little bigots squealing about discrimination. ie they don't have the freedom to actively spoil other people's lives"

perhaps a gay man or woman WOULD like to be catholic

I mean aren't tones of priests gay anyway?

given that the agency wouldn't be used by gay couples, WHY is the catholic church trying to make an exemption in the legislation (thus holding it up and opening it to all kinds of amendment)???

bigotry has no place at the heart of people's spirituality. and for many people including the numerous gay catholics it doesn't.

If it wasn't for us, Monty Python would never have been that funny! Think of all the jokes we've given you - that ungratefulness for you!

And at least you can insult us without being threatened with death!

Rhubarb I would think that members of this organisation and others like it would want to bring their children up as catholics!

Enid - if you want to use a catholic adoption agency then you are agreeing to bring up your children in the catholic faith. If you use another agency you can bring them up in any religion you like. It's a bit like getting your child baptised in a religion you don't agree with.

There are no perks you know, you don't get a child any quicker!