Coming soon to America, unless people wake up. Britain's new "Sexual Orientation Regulations" will take effect in April, and leaders of both the Catholic Church and Church of England are warning their government and people of its dire effects. (Has this law defined "sexual orientation"? We doubt it.)
We've already seen the Catholic Church in Massachusetts back down after a little pressure from the homosexual lobby and a Governor who favors adoptions by homosexuals who have a "legitimate interest." (And in Massachusetts, we don't even have a law on the books concerning adoption and "sexual orientation" of the adopting couple, just an administrative regulation!)
See the article in LifeSiteNews, "Catholic Church will Drop Schools, Charities and Adoption Agencies if Laws Force Homosexuality, UK Archbishop Warns: Laws would force churches and faith-based organizations to allow to gay groups to use facilities" (11-28-06):
Roman Catholic Archbishop of Birmingham Vincent Nichols has issued a strong warning to the Government over new pro-homosexual legislation, saying the Catholic Church will no longer cooperate with the government on schools, charity programs and adoption agencies if the government attempts to force the Church to accept homosexuality.
Archbishop Nichols said the government was "engaged in an intense and at times aggressive reshaping of our moral framework", taking on a role it has “no mandate or competence” to carry out, The Evening Standard reported earlier today. “[T]hose who are elected to fashion our laws are not elected to be our moral tutors,” Archbishop Nichols said....
The Catholic Church has said it will close down the seven adoption agencies it runs if the law forces the Church to place children with homosexual couples. That threat carries significant weight, the Standard reported, since 1 in 20 adopted children are placed in homes through the Catholic agencies.
The Sexual Orientation Regulations, which will take effect in England in April, are ostensibly aimed at preventing discrimination against homosexuals in the workplace. The impact on Christian communities will likely be significant, however, as the regulations would prevent churches and faith-based organizations from refusing to permit homosexual groups from using their facilities. Christian or Muslim businesses could be sued for refusing to accept homosexual clients--hoteliers and printers would not be free to withhold their facilities and services from same-sex couples or clients.
Leaders in the Church of England have warned the measures will leave vicars vulnerable to lawsuits if they refuse to bless a same-sex union. In Northern Ireland , the Sexual Orientation Regulations will be enforced with fines between £500 and £1,000 for a first offence, and up to £25,000 for subsequent offences.
Read coverage from The Evening Standard.
