Vatican calls for
an end to adoptions by gays

Following several reports that the Roman Catholic archdiocese in Boston was arranging adoptions for gay and lesbian couples in accordance with state policy, the Vatican has reportedly instructed the diocese to stop the practice. According to the Boston Herald, Archbishop Sean O'Malley has received a letter from the papal nuncio in Washington, Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, saying that Catholic Charities must discontinue helping same-sex couples adopt children.

The Catholic World News Web site reports that the Boston archdiocese declined to comment, saying that communications between the archbishop and the pope's representative are confidential. However, a spokesman indicated that the policies of Catholic Charities are under review. The Boston arm of Catholic Charities came under fire in October when it was revealed that the office was actively helping gay couples to adopt children, despite church teaching that such adoptions are "gravely immoral" and "would actually mean doing violence to those children."

Father J. Bryan Hehir, the head of Catholic Charities in Boston, told Catholic World News that the church agency assisted in adoptions by gays in order to qualify for state funding that underwrites other adoption services. "If we could design the system ourselves, we would not participate in adoptions to gay couples, but we can't," he said. "We have to balance various goods." (Advocate.com)