Response to Derby City Council Fostering Case Statements It is not true that Christians are being prevented from fostering and adopting children in spite of increasing evidence that they are being marginalised in public life, says the Evangelical Alliance. 02 March 2011 It is not true that Christians are being prevented from fostering and adopting children in spite of increasing evidence that they are being marginalised in public life, says the Evangelical Alliance. Earlier this week, both Eunice and Owen Johns and Derby City Council asked the High Court to rule on the suitability of the couple as foster parents in light of their Christian views on sexuality. Both parties sought to persuade the High Court to back their own respective views. Claims that mainstream Christians who believe homosexual practice to be morally wrong will be unable to foster children are inaccurate. The court declared a ‘no ruling’ on the matter. While the outcome is unhelpful for Christians and other religious believers with orthodox beliefs, it is unlikely that the case will carry any major landmark implications. It is highly questionable whether British courts of law should be used as forums for debating the pros and cons of conflicting human rights created by equalities legislation. Instead, they should only be used to resolve disputed points of law based on evidence. The Evangelical Alliance expresses doubt about the wisdom in bringing such cases to the High Court in the first place. While there is no doubt that equality laws appear increasingly controversial in the way they seem to disproportionately impact against Christians, there is a clear need for a more cautious and strategic approach when deciding to take matters to court. Dr Don Horrocks, Head of Public Affairs at the Alliance, said: “We all need to be more clued-up in deciding if and when to fight legal battles. Of course there are occasions when defending religious liberty in the courts is entirely appropriate and if there is evidence of fundamental unfairness in the interpretation of equalities legislation then this needs to be addressed by government. “However, it is counterproductive to provoke the courts into unnecessary and unhelpful rulings – especially when a case is weak and evidence is lacking. There may also be risks that Christians will be viewed as deliberately engineering conflicts with the courts or pleading privileged treatment.” Dr Horrocks advises Christian groups to seek constructive ways to safeguard public services as well as civil liberties by working with public authorities – unless there is no other option but to seek legal redress. He adds: “The good news is that Christians are and continue to be actively involved in public life and contribute to the common good. Following this particular case we hope that those in authority will continue to consider the welfare of the child first in allowing vulnerable children to be raised in supportive homes.” For copy of full judgment visit: http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Admin/2011/375.html
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From the above statement by the UK organisation ‘Evangelical Alliance’, it can be seen that the majority of Evangelical Christians in the UK are not happy about the furore that has been stoked up by the case of a couple seeking a judgement on their suitability as foster-parents, while yet professing negative views about homosexuality.
The truth of the matter is that – if the couple had not been urged by anti-gay leaders in the Church of England to test their case before a high court judge – their unsuitability might not have had to be declared by the two judges involved in the case.
There are no doubt many more-liberal Christians in the UK, for whom the whole question of having to declare anti-gay sentiments to their foster-chidren might never become an issue. Unfortunately, this push on the part of the anti-gay activists who actively encouraged this couple to seek a declarative judgement has highlighted the issue of religious bigotry on the part of prospective foster-parents.
Father Ron Smith, Christchurch
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