UK gay adoption news article

[Harrowborg]

Pretty much what the title thread describes, I found this article on the BBC website about a magistrate who left his position due to a conflict between the laws on adoption by homosexual couples and his Christian beliefs:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/south_yorkshire/7055708.stm

whats everyones opinions on this?

from a cultural perspective here in the UK, I do find it refreshing to see someone standing by their religious beliefs and convictions.

 

[sally_ja_hawkins]

This is about the latitude accorded to religious belief, not attitudes to sexuality, nor equality of sexuality. The job of magistrates (lower level judges in the UK - I don't know how well known the term is elsewhere) is to apply the law - as laid down by parliament - dispassionately, logically, and forensically. It is not for them to opt out due to personal views on a particular issue. The fact that his stance is influenced by his religious views gives it no extra weight. What if a judge asserted that, in his view, theft was a good thing, and therefore he shouldn't have to sit on burglary trials, as being asked to do so discriminated against his beliefs? Law is a set meal, not a buffet you can pick and choose from.