Catholic agencies lose on gay adoption

LONDON, Jan. 30 (UPI) -- Adoption agencies run by the Roman Catholic Church in Britain must be willing to consider gay couples as prospective parents starting in 2009, a report said.

Prime Minister Tony Blair announced Monday that his government had decided against an "opt-out" provision for those who object to the non-discrimination policy on religious grounds, The Telegraph reported.

Blair said that through 2008 agencies that refuse gay prospective parents must refer them to other agencies.

Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly, a Catholic, and Blair, an Anglican with close ties to the Catholic Church, had been trying to win an opt-out. But the Labor Party was united against them.

Even David Cameron, the leader of the Conservative Party, suggested that an opt-out would be wrong. He suggested some compromise like letting Catholic agencies work with agencies who do not object to gay adoption.

Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, the head of the Catholic Church in Britain, said last year that the church's adoption agencies would have to close if they are forced to place children with gay couples.