Catholic agency to defy gay rights law

LONDON, June 8 (UPI) -- A Roman Catholic adoption agency says it will not comply with the British government's controversial gay equality laws.

The Westminster Catholic Children's Society, headed by Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, will ignore new rules that require it to place children with same-sex couples, The Daily Mail reported Sunday.

The Westminster Society says it will continue its policy of placing children only with married heterosexuals and single people.

The adoption agency's advisers say they have found a legal loophole that could allow the agency to remain open and adhere to church beliefs against homosexuality.

The agency has been advised by lawyers that if it amended its by-laws to refer directly to married heterosexual couples, it could comply with the Sexual Orientation Regulations, which take effect next year.

The new rules are intended to end discrimination against gays by businesses.

"I fully support the decision of the trustees in their endeavors to continue the valuable work of the Society," the cardinal said.