The debate last week on whether or not to allow adoption agencies run by the Catholic Church the right to refuse to place their children with gay couples on the grounds of faith increasingly agitated me. Thankfully, Downing Street has made the right decision.
In our society I thought that we had accepted the principle of equality; however, now I am not so sure. We have certainly not yet seen it woven into the fabric of our lives where it belongs. It is still but a needle and thread waiting to be stitched.
It is all too common and far too easy for people and organisations to say that they believe in equality and human rights, but when it comes to acting on those words so many fall so short of their meaning.
That is why the decision made by Downing Street’s was the only correct one they could have made and one that I am proud they did.
Allowing the Catholic Church to deny gay couples the right to adopt children from their agencies would have been tantamount to state sponsored discrimination and a clear expression by our Government that the principal of equality is flexible to anyone powerful enough to push it.
If we truly believe that our society is one for all people - one based on equality and fairness - then we must do all that we can, when we can, to realise that and Governments have to take the lead. I hope our Government continues to hold the principal of equality firm and inflexible.
Although this time the right decision has been made, the very debate has further exposed the willingness of some in our society to discriminate on the grounds of difference. It should serve as a reminder to all of us who believe in true equality to keep standing up for what believe in and fighting the good fight until we realise that fair and equal society we dream of.
In our society I thought that we had accepted the principle of equality; however, now I am not so sure. We have certainly not yet seen it woven into the fabric of our lives where it belongs. It is still but a needle and thread waiting to be stitched.
It is all too common and far too easy for people and organisations to say that they believe in equality and human rights, but when it comes to acting on those words so many fall so short of their meaning.
That is why the decision made by Downing Street’s was the only correct one they could have made and one that I am proud they did.
Allowing the Catholic Church to deny gay couples the right to adopt children from their agencies would have been tantamount to state sponsored discrimination and a clear expression by our Government that the principal of equality is flexible to anyone powerful enough to push it.
If we truly believe that our society is one for all people - one based on equality and fairness - then we must do all that we can, when we can, to realise that and Governments have to take the lead. I hope our Government continues to hold the principal of equality firm and inflexible.
Although this time the right decision has been made, the very debate has further exposed the willingness of some in our society to discriminate on the grounds of difference. It should serve as a reminder to all of us who believe in true equality to keep standing up for what believe in and fighting the good fight until we realise that fair and equal society we dream of.
