High Court Suggests Christian Beliefs Harmful to Children

[TBC: The Johns family of England are Christians and because they will impart their Christian beliefs to any children they adopt or foster, are considered ineligible to continue as foster parents.]

High Court suggests Christian beliefs harmful to children. Fostering by Christians now in doubt [Excerpts]

In a landmark judgment, handed down [February 28, 2011], the High Court [of England] has suggested that Christians with traditional views on sexual ethics are unsuitable as foster carers, and that homosexual ‘rights’ trump freedom of conscience in the UK. The Judges stated that Christian beliefs on sexual ethics may be ‘inimical’ to children, and they implicitly upheld an Equalities and Human Rights Commission submission that children risk being ‘infected’ by Christian moral beliefs.

Today's judgment strongly affirms homosexual rights over freedom of conscience and leaves the Johns currently unable to foster a child as desired, despite their proven track record as foster parents. There now appears to be nothing to stop the increasing bar on Christians who wish to adopt or foster children but who are not willing to compromise their beliefs.

The summary contained in the judgment sends out the clear message that Christian ethical beliefs are potentially harmful to children and that Christian parents with mainstream Christian views are not suitable to be considered as potential foster parents as this does not accord with diversity and equality policies.

The Johns are being represented by the Christian Legal Centre.

(Christian Concern, UK Newsletter, February 28, 2011).