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Gay News: A Christian couple morally opposed to homosexuality have lost their High Court battle to have the right to be foster carers.
The Johns may appeal
Anti-gay couple lose right to be fosters
Eunice and Owen Johns, aged 62 and 65, from Derby, had applied to become respite carers, but withdrew their application, believing it “doomed to failure”, after a social worker raised concerns over their attitude towards homosexuality.
The Johns had told social workers that they would be unable to tell a child in their care that a homosexual lifestyle was acceptable.
The couple, who have fostered 15 children in the past, brought their case to the High Court to ask for a ruling that their faith should not be a bar to becoming carers.
However, Lord Justice Munby and Mr Justice Beatson today ruled that laws protecting people from discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation should “take precedence” over the right not to be discriminated on religious grounds.
Speaking outside the Royal Courts of Justice, Mrs John said:
“All we wanted was to offer a loving home to a child in need. We have a good track record as foster patents. But because we are Christians with mainstream Christian views on sexual ethics, we are apparently unsuitable as foster parents.”
Ben Summerskill, the chief executive of Stonewall said:
“Thankfully Mr and Mrs Johns’s outdated views aren'y just out if step with the majority of people in modern
“If you wish to be involved in the delivery of a public service you should be prepared to provide it fairly to anyone.”
The Johns are considering an appeal.
