CARE: Religious groups forced to act against belief

Tuesday, 09, Jan 2007 12:00

Christian charity CARE has criticised the sexual orientation regulations which it says could force religious groups to act against their beliefs.

The House of Lords will tonight debate the laws, which prevent businesses from refusing to serve gay and lesbian customers.

Care said that while it supported the right of gays to access other services, there were a "limited number of contexts in which the provision of a good or a service would result in the violation of the Christian conscience if it had the effect of endorsing, promoting or facilitating sexual activity between people in gay relationships".

Examples of this include forcing Christian care homes to accept homosexual couples or requiring Christian adoption agencies to place children with gay couples.

The charity would like to see the legislation amended to state that: "Nothing in these regulations shall require a person to promote or assist homosexual practice in a manner which is contrary to that person’s strongly held religious beliefs."