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Leeds-based Catholic Care adoption agency has won a landmark ruling in court over the joint decision of the Government and the Charity Commission to force it to refer children to gay couples.
The fact that Catholic Care has to go to high court clearly highlights issues surrounding religious freedom. The latest report and survey published by public theology think tank THEOS, ' Free to Believe' depicts the " silent downgrading of religious freedom" in modern Britain, showing that a third of people believe that religious freedom has been restricted in the UK over the last ten years.
Shadow Justice Secretary, Rt. Hon Dominic Grieve QC MP, said that the report's author: "Has made [an important contribution] to the debate on religious freedom in our society.
"His strong advocacy that the religious foundation to society has served this country well is undoubtedly reflected by the evidence around us of what tolerant Christianity has been able offer to a multiplicity of other faith and secular groups within our country."
Catholic Care's victory was totally unexpected and means that the Charity Commission will have to reassess whether the dioceses of Leeds, Middlesbrough, and Hallam are free to allocate vulnerable children into families as they see fit.
The Right Reverend Arthur Roche, Bishop of Leeds and spokesman for Catholic Care said it would help to "continue to provide an invaluable service to some of the most vulnerable children in our society, their families and communities."
Alongside this ruling, the House of Lords will have the third reading of the Equality Bill in the coming week, which includes a proposed amendment which could see catholic adoption agencies nationwide exempted from allowing same sex couples to adopt.
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