Judge declares Christians unfit to be parents

[novkhan]

A Christian couple have been left "extremely distressed" after the High Court ruled a local council was entitled to exclude them from becoming child foster carers because of their faith-based opposition to homosexuality.

read all about it

http://www.google.com/hostednews/uk...qzyvyCITvxmPYY0EQ?docId=N0211481298904191849A

 

[nomoreskyline]

I am saying nothing on this one :neutral:

 

[Nick A. Please]

Lynch me if you want but the social worker has a point. Being as close minded as them may hurt the child's way of thinking.

 

[NewsReader]

Maybe they should have been asked where in the bible it says it is against God's laws and morals. Not saying the bible is God's laws as that is for another debate. Homophobic people sit down shut up and listen.

 

[due Sept. 13th! :)]

What would they do if the child turned out to be gay, shun them?

At 62 and 65 they're too old to raise a child anyway.

 

[moreguitars]

yes and send him to a deprogramming center where they teach them NOT to be homosexual....

Finally, someone stands up and says something correct about devote christianity.....(other than Bill Maher I mean)....good on the judge!!!

 

[Deeana]

Damn Tboy, we are in violent agreement on this one. ˄5

Having what they describe as "Christian beliefs" is one thing. (and that premise is open to debate) But I must say those beliefs, are less and less mainstream views. Allowing them to have the care and control over impressionable young minds to impose those beliefs is an entirely different matter. However, the story may also be biased, maybe the social worker had an agenda as well. We can't tell from the story.

In my opinion the judge made a sound decision.

 

[Fisher_King]

^5 back atcha...being a devout christian IMO is no different than being a devout muslim, just the christian crusades were over eons ago, the muslims are just starting theirs.......

One thing about christianity however is that slowly they are adapting to life in the new millenium. There are some priests who are preaching birth control, safe sex, homosexuality, etc. I saw an interview with one who said openly "with the HIV crisis to condemn the use of condoms is absolutely ludicrous...."

 

[Newbie555]

Without trying to start a war, I'd like to put forward a counter argument for sake of broader debate;

Once this decision becomes precedent, won't it open the door for secular individuals to face equal scrutiny for their opinions on say, Christianity? or Islam?

If a religiously devout couple is barred from teaching their children that "homosexuals are bad", then doesn't this also make an allowance for same-sex couples to be barred from adopting because they may feel that "Christian beliefs are bad"?

I share the same POV as others who have commented already, but I do have some concern about the long term effects these decisions may have.

OK, GO!!

 

[sheenkhit]

Good point brett and it could open the door for other bias against other groups. I think the key factor here is whether the people in question were turned down because of their religious beliefs, or because of their beliefs. ie: whether it is their opinion or their opinion based on their religion.

For eg: I would have NO problem for a devout muslim couple who believe all infidels should be eradicated being turned down for a foster child.

I think the key word here is a progressive way of thinking, as opposed to an oppressive way of thinking. Therefore anyone can apply, but all will be examined equally. Any radical thinking would be cause for disqualification. As it stands now, homosexuality is become more mainstream therefore more readily accepted (as opposed to how it was just 10 yrs ago).

 

[arcticpuppet.]

My biggest objection is the characterization of this throughout the story as being Christians and Christian beliefs. I'm Christian and don't share these beliefs nor do most Christians that I know - thank heavens. The media is, yet again, playing to the soundbite/sensationalism. These people should be more definitively described as bigots as the term Christians is too broad. Now I don't know much about the Pentecostal Church but surly even this subset of Christianity cannot be universally this backward.

 

[Tiara M.]

Actually, the media is simply reporting on how the couple identified themselves:

"We have been excluded because we have moral opinions based on our faith and we feel sidelined because we are Christians with normal, mainstream, Christian views on sexual ethics."

So it isn't just the media, in fact, the story is titled "couple distressed over foster ban"......

 

[mohamed]

And there is the problem in the quote. They say "normal, mainstram, Christian views on sexual ethics". Oh really? If I had to pick my religion, I would say I am Christian. I was raised going to a Christian church and in my family we usually have a Christian Clergyman officiate at weddings and funerals etc. I may not practice it, and am pretty much agnostic, but I do follow most of the Christian values. I am big on; do unto others; judge not lest you be judged; and turning the other cheek. I kind of fall down on the adultery issue but hey, you can't win them all.

I don't know what would give them the right to decide that their views are mainstream, particularly on homosexuality. They are narrow-minded and certainly not in keeping with any Christian values I espouse. The judge made the right decision.

 

[Gerik]

I think that's the problem with the devout: they claim that their views are what everyone else does too and it is rarely the case.....and you have to wonder what skeletons are in their closet.

I dated a chick whose parents were devout christians...nightly prayers on their knees in the living room, church 5 times a week, etc and she told me some of the weird shit that went on in that house.....not going to get into it here but believe me, all the church going in the world doesn't make what they did right.......