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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
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| 'No Catholic opt-out' on adoption | 'No Catholic opt-out' on adoption |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Roman Catholic adoption agencies must not win an opt-out from new gay discrimination laws, Education Secretary Alan Johnson has said. | Roman Catholic adoption agencies must not win an opt-out from new gay discrimination laws, Education Secretary Alan Johnson has said. |
| The agencies say they will close if not given an opt-out from having to place children with gay couples, which they say goes against their beliefs. | The agencies say they will close if not given an opt-out from having to place children with gay couples, which they say goes against their beliefs. |
| But Mr Johnson told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that such a plan would itself mean "plain, simple discrimination". | But Mr Johnson told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that such a plan would itself mean "plain, simple discrimination". |
| He added: "I don't think there's a way through that allows any exemption." | He added: "I don't think there's a way through that allows any exemption." |
| Newspaper reports that Tony Blair had "caved in" to Cabinet members against an exemption have been described as "ridiculous" by Downing Street. | Newspaper reports that Tony Blair had "caved in" to Cabinet members against an exemption have been described as "ridiculous" by Downing Street. |
| I'm convinced that I don't see a case for exemption and I don't think the prime minister does Alan Johnson, Education Secretary | I'm convinced that I don't see a case for exemption and I don't think the prime minister does Alan Johnson, Education Secretary |
| No 10 said, after Mr Blair met a group of Labour MPs to discuss the issue on Wednesday, that discussions were continuing. | No 10 said, after Mr Blair met a group of Labour MPs to discuss the issue on Wednesday, that discussions were continuing. |
| There is speculation that those discussions might be focusing now on giving agencies allowed time to adapt or close. | There is speculation that those discussions might be focusing now on giving agencies allowed time to adapt or close. |
| Mr Johnson said he believed Mr Blair had not favoured an exemption. | Mr Johnson said he believed Mr Blair had not favoured an exemption. |
| Reports say that Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly, who is charged with fighting discrimination and who is a devout Catholic, is considering resigning over the issue. | Reports say that Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly, who is charged with fighting discrimination and who is a devout Catholic, is considering resigning over the issue. |
| Concerns | Concerns |
| She has previously said her own religion would not prevent her from doing her job of tackling discrimination of all types, including that against homosexuals. | She has previously said her own religion would not prevent her from doing her job of tackling discrimination of all types, including that against homosexuals. |
| When asked if Ms Kelly might see a case for an exemption, Mr Johnson said: "No... Ruth has tried very hard to find a way through this and that's her job to do that." | When asked if Ms Kelly might see a case for an exemption, Mr Johnson said: "No... Ruth has tried very hard to find a way through this and that's her job to do that." |
| Asked if she saw it as a resigning issue, he said he was not going to give a "blow-by-blow account". | Asked if she saw it as a resigning issue, he said he was not going to give a "blow-by-blow account". |
| Mr Johnson, who has government responsibility for adoption issues, told Today: "As agencies that take public money we cannot allow a situation to continue... that says a couple who have been vetted.. and would make a loving home for a child are told 'you cannot adopt a child with us'." | Mr Johnson, who has government responsibility for adoption issues, told Today: "As agencies that take public money we cannot allow a situation to continue... that says a couple who have been vetted.. and would make a loving home for a child are told 'you cannot adopt a child with us'." |
| Mr Johnson added: "I'm convinced that I don't see a case for exemption and I don't think the prime minister does." | Mr Johnson added: "I'm convinced that I don't see a case for exemption and I don't think the prime minister does." |
| Mr Johnson said: "The strength of the argument suggests that we cannot introduce legislation to protect gays and lesbians and, at the same time, allow that discrimination to continue." | Mr Johnson said: "The strength of the argument suggests that we cannot introduce legislation to protect gays and lesbians and, at the same time, allow that discrimination to continue." |
| Archbishop | Archbishop |
| The Equality Act, due to come into effect in England, Wales and Scotland in April, outlaws discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities and services on the basis of sexual orientation. | The Equality Act, due to come into effect in England, Wales and Scotland in April, outlaws discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities and services on the basis of sexual orientation. |
| Catholic leaders say its teachings prevent its agencies placing children with homosexuals and they will close if bound by the rules. | Catholic leaders say its teachings prevent its agencies placing children with homosexuals and they will close if bound by the rules. |
| The Church of England has backed the Catholic Church. | The Church of England has backed the Catholic Church. |
| Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams and the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, have written to Tony Blair to argue that "rights of conscience cannot be made subject to legislation, however well-meaning". | Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams and the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, have written to Tony Blair to argue that "rights of conscience cannot be made subject to legislation, however well-meaning". |
| Several members of the Cabinet are said to back this view, but Constitutional Affairs Minister Harriet Harman said there was no scope for exemptions to the legislation. | Several members of the Cabinet are said to back this view, but Constitutional Affairs Minister Harriet Harman said there was no scope for exemptions to the legislation. |
| "We will stay true to our commitment in tackling sexual discrimination in terms of sexual orientation," she told the New Statesman magazine. | "We will stay true to our commitment in tackling sexual discrimination in terms of sexual orientation," she told the New Statesman magazine. |
| "You can either be against discrimination or you can allow for it. You can't be a little bit against discrimination." | "You can either be against discrimination or you can allow for it. You can't be a little bit against discrimination." |
| The Catholic Church's agencies are said to handle 4%, or about 200, of all adoptions a year. However they handle about a third of those children judged difficult to place. | The Catholic Church's agencies are said to handle 4%, or about 200, of all adoptions a year. However they handle about a third of those children judged difficult to place. |