Adoption agency Catholic Care is currently fighting a battle to gain an exemption to discrimination law in the High Court. The agency says it will be forced to close if it has to follow the law which says it must allow gay parents to adopt.


The agency's lawyer said that, according to Catholic teaching:
"A  family unit is made up of a man and woman whose lives together are fulfilled by the blessing of children."

The charity maintains that discrimination against gay couples would be justified as the harm caused to potential adopters would be less than that caused by the agency closing.

The agency's request is being challenged by the Charity Commission and the Equality and Human Rights Commission. There are currently eleven Catholic adoption agencies operating in the UK, and all - apart from Catholic Care - have either closed or have dropped their exclusion to gay couples adopting.