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Scottish
Update Issue 3 - The newletter of the Christian Institute (Scotland)
Will
McConnell allow gay couples to adopt children?
By
Mike Judge
The
Executive has refused to rule out gay adoption in Scotland. First
Minister, Jack McConnell, may decide to follow the lead of the Westminster
Parliament, which is currently considering plans to allow adoption
by homosexual and unmarried couples in England and Wales.
The law on adoption in Scotland is presently the same as the rest
of the UK. Press reports say Mr McConnell is keen to preserve this
unity and is therefore likely to take on board any changes passed
at Westminster.(1)
But the Executive is not obliged to follow London's lead. Family
and religious groups are urging the Executive not to allow homosexuals
and unmarried couples to adopt.
The Christian Institute has argued against changing the adoption
law in this way, saying it is putting politically correct social
engineering ahead of the best interests of children. The Institute's
Deputy Director, Simon Calvert, said: "The overwhelming evidence
is that unmarried and gay adoption would be bad for kids. The research
is crystal clear, children need a male and a female role model in
a permanent relationship. The Executive can't hide behind Westminster
on this. If they decide to change the law, it will be their decision
and theirs alone."
1
The Scotsman, 8 May 2002; The Herald, 8 May 2002
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