The Reverend
Vincent Nichols, the Roman Catholic archbishop of
Birmingham, England, is warning the British government of a
massive negative response from the Christian community
if it will continue pushing laws promoting
equality for gays. Nichols opposes the recent Sexual
Orientation Regulations, legislation that would ensure that
LGBT people in the United Kingdom are not denied
goods and services on the basis of their sexuality,
reports The Daily Telegraph.
The measure is
schedule to go before Parliament this April; however,
Nichols has warned that the proposed regulations could mean
the end of the church's collaboration with the
government in providing welfare services.
While giving a
speech at St. Chad's Cathedral in Birmingham, Nichols
proclaimed that what the government "must realize is that it
is not possible to seek cooperation with us while at
the same time trying to impose upon us conditions
which contradict our moral values."
The church fears that the future of its adoption
and fostering agencies may hang in the balance due to
the fact that Pope Benedict XVI has already
stated that adoption by gays is immoral, and
several Catholic-run U.S. agencies have closed down
because of the introduction of similar laws.
"We need a massive Christian fight-back...or
these regulations will go through," said Ann
Widdecombe, the former Conservative minister.
"We need everybody to say this is wrong." (The
Advocate)
