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Christian couple told: 'You can't foster if you think it's wrong to be gay'
Last updated at 15:22pm on 27.02.08
Eunice Johns: 'I can give love and security'
But Eunice and Owen Johns have been forced to abandon their good work because they refuse to tell children as young as ten that homosexuality is an acceptable lifestyle.
To do so, they say, would go against their Christian beliefs.
The devastated couple withdrew an application to their council to continue as foster carers after being told they must condone homosexuality to adhere to gay rights laws.
The Equality Act (Sexual Orientation), which came into force last April, makes it illegal for any business or organisation providing a public service to discriminate against anyone because of their sexuality.
The council says its fostering panel felt it would not be following the regulations if it placed a child with a couple who could not comply with the Act.
The couple's case comes at a time when there is a chronic shortage of foster parents, who work on a voluntary basis. Around 8,000 more are needed nationally.
The couple, who have four grownup children of their own, first became foster parents in 1996 and provided weekend respite care for 18 children over the next four years at their home in Derby. They gave up fostering when a catering business they ran became too time-consuming.
They then re-applied to provide weekend respite foster care to children aged under ten when they felt they were able to devote themselves fully to the task again.
Yesterday Mrs Johns, 59, a Sunday school teacher, said: "We started going through the assessment and were told that there was new legislation.
"They were asking: "What would you do if a 10 year-old child came home and said they had been picked on because they were homosexual?"
"They said, "Do you know you would have to tell them that it's ok to be homosexual?"
"But I said I couldn't do that because my Christian beliefs won't let me. Morally I couldn't do that, spiritually I couldn'tdo that.
"I said I was there to explain that I would not compromise my faith.
"I said I would have to tell the child that as I am a Christian I don't believe in homosexuality but I can give as much love and security as I possibly can."
Mr Johns, 63, a metal polisher, said: "I would love any child, black or white, gay or straight.
'But I cannot understand why sexuality is an issue when we are talking about boys and girls under the age of ten."
Their case has been taken up by the Christian Legal Centre, which is to seek a judicial review if the council does not reverse its decision.
Religious campaigners say Mr and Mrs Johns are the victims of an equality drive which puts gay rights above religious beliefs.
Stephen Green, director of Christian Voice said: "The fostering service is in danger of losing an experienced Christian couple all for the sake of worshipping at the altar of diversity."
Sara Bolton, Derby City Council cabinet member for children and young people, said: "This is an unfortunate case. But these laws are in place for the good of the children in our care.
"We need to treat everybody fairly because we're looking after vulnerable children and therefore we need to keep strictly to the legislation and the policy."
Reader views (10)
Here's a sample of the latest views published.
The laws regarding teaching our children and young people across the board about homosexuality is wrong. Children of this age particularly at the age of ten or under are very vulnerable particularly coming from possibly unstable backgrounds and putting teaching about homosexuality into the mix could open themselves up to even more instability.
I understand if a child on a one to one basis raises the issue on or about homosexuality then that needs to be sensitively dealt with.
Every child is unique and development mentally, emotionally, and physically is different for every child.
But these laws are _NOT_ in place for the good of the children in our care.
- Plackett, uk
According to the Orwellian state we live in, a subnormal leftwing atheist is allowed to make decision on who may or may not adopt a child by their political and religious beliefs. If they were to impose criteria other than the compulsory acceptance of homosexuality we would have more decent people adopting such as the Johns bringing up a less fortunate child. The Johns have been discriminated because of their religious convictions by the council.
- Alexis Dogilewski, London, England
Good, same for racism and any kind of HATRED I say, we don't want those people to infect the minds of young with their prejudice.
- Daveb, London
If they were Muslim this would be a none issue.
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
>>"This is an unfortunate case. But these laws are in place for the good of the children in our care.
No they aren't. They are in place because common sense has left the building.
- Adam, Harrow, Uk
Time for change and it is time for Britain to rid itself of political correctness in all shape and form. This is more evidence of positive discrimination and how this government ignores the beliefs and views of the majority, ironically the people that voted them in, wake up people!
- Brandon Thomas, London UK
What if the children they are fostering are gay?
- Derek, London
And if they had been Muslim it would have been perfectly acceptable for them to hold this view.
- Fly, London
They're not putting gay rights above religious beliefs. They are putting gay rights above children's welfare.
- Ollie, London
Political correctness gone mad. Why doesn't the government simply pass a law to force everyone to be gay?
- Jimmy, London
