Australian Agency Opposed to Gay Adoption Bill

Anglicare, one of three accredited nongovernment adoption agencies in New South Wales, has threatened to withdraw its faith-based services if the state parliament passes a bill that allows same-sex couples to adopt.

According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, "Chief executive Peter Kell has written to MPs outlining 11 reasons why the bill should be rejected, including that children need the opportunity to have both a mother and a father."

Kell said that faith-based agencies should be exempted from the bill if it passes; otherwise, his group may have to withdraw its services entirely in order to avoid litigation.

Despite its opposition to adoption by same-sex couples, Anglicare took out ads calling for foster care participants in a gay newspaper last month. The ABC reports that the move generated controversy.