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Bid to find gay adoption accord Bid to find gay adoption accord
(about 1 hour later)
A new attempt is being made to allow Catholic adoption agencies to keep working under new equality laws, the BBC has learned. A fresh attempt is being made to allow Catholic adoption agencies to keep working under new equality laws, the BBC has learned.
The agencies have said they will close rather than act against their faith and handle requests from gay couples.The agencies have said they will close rather than act against their faith and handle requests from gay couples.
A cross-party working group has been set up to try to find a compromise to keep the agencies working. A cross-party working group of MPs has been set up to try to find a compromise - a move which could also stave off a defeat in a Lords vote on Wednesday.
Ministers hope the move will stave off defeat when Equality Act regulations go before the Lords on Wednesday. Meanwhile a bid by some Tory MPs to overturn the rules has been defeated.
The government had refused to allow Catholic agencies to opt out of the regulations, saying there can be no opt-out from discrimination laws. The government had refused to allow Catholic agencies to opt out of the regulations, saying there can be no opt-out from the Equality Act, which aims to outlaw discrimination by businesses and service providers.
It is hoped that the cross-party group, which will liaise with the Catholic Church to seek a compromise will also appease Labour and Tory backbenchers who oppose efforts to force the Catholic church to comply. Compromise sought
Earlier, ministers were accused of trying to close down debate on the Equality Act, which aims to outlaw discrimination, by asking MPs to approve draft rules without debate. It is hoped that the cross-party group, which will liaise with the Catholic Church to seek a compromise will also appease Labour and Tory backbenchers who oppose efforts to force the Catholic Church to comply.
Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, said it was an "abuse of parliamentary democracy" to rush through the laws. The Catholic Church argues it goes against church teachings for them to consider gay couples as prospective parents and its agencies will have to close if forced to comply with the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) regulations.
The draft regulations do not have to be debated by MPs, because they form part of the Equality Act - two thirds of which has already been approved. It was granted a 21-month transition period, but had expected to have to close its agencies entirely - which handle 4% of adoptions, but among them some of the children considered most difficult to place.
'Profound concern'
The House of Lords will debate them on Wednesday, but MPs' discussion in the Commons was limited to a 90-minute committee hearing last week.
Profound public concern about aspects of these regulations has not been heard Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'ConnorProfound public concern about aspects of these regulations has not been heard Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor
Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor's comments came in a statement issued on behalf of the Standing Committee of the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales. On Monday the Catholic head of England and Wales, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, said the government was rushing through the regulations - after MPs were asked to approve them without debate.
He said: "It is, surely, an abuse of parliamentary democracy that these regulations are being considered by Parliament only through a hurriedly arranged and very brief meeting of 16 appointed MPs, and a short debate in the House of Lords. He accused the government of "an abuse of parliamentary democracy", saying the controversial regulations were "being considered by Parliament only through a hurriedly arranged and very brief meeting of 16 appointed MPs, and a short debate in the House of Lords".
"During the House of Commons committee meeting, opportunity for serious debate was denied. He added: "Profound public concern about aspects of these regulations has not been heard."
"Profound public concern about aspects of these regulations has not been heard." Vote defeated
Catholic agencies currently refer gay couples to other adoption agencies. They handle 4%, or about 200, of all adoptions a year, but this includes about a third of those children judged most difficult to place. Some Conservatives were also angry that there had been no opportunity to debate them fully and forced a vote attempting to throw out the regulations, but were defeated by 310 votes to 100.
'No discrimination' Tory MPs including Ann Widdecombe, Sir Patrick Cormack and Peter Luff argued that they should have been debated in the Commons chamber.
But in January Downing Street said there would be no exemptions from the law, although it offered a 21-month transition period to faith-based agencies, to adjust to the change. But Labour MP Dennis Skinner said the Conservative front bench supported the government in holding the debate in a committee.
Tony Blair said he believed it was a "way through" to prevent discrimination and protect the interests of children, which all "reasonable people" should be able to accept. The draft regulations do not have to be debated by MPs, because they form part of the Equality Act - two thirds of which has already been approved.
"There is no place in our society for discrimination. That's why I support the right of gay couples to apply to adopt like any other couple," he said. But the House of Lords will debate them on Wednesday. Ministers hope setting up the cross-party group and showing willingness to compromise might help stave off a likely defeat in the Lords.
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. Tony Blair has said he could not back an opt-out for the Catholic Church, saying : "There is no place in our society for discrimination. That's why I support the right of gay couples to apply to adopt like any other couple."