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Executive in secret talks on gay adoption

A deal that would allow Catholic adoption agencies in Scotland to refuse to place children with gay couples is being secretly negotiated between the Scottish Executive and Westminster.

Education minister Hugh Henry is in talks with his UK counterparts to allow Catholic adoption agencies north of the Border an 'opt out' of new legislation which would make it illegal to discriminate against homosexual couples.

Under the compromise, Scotland's two Catholic adoption agencies would be able to pass inquiries from would-be gay parents on to other organisations.

Labour ministers in Scotland are desperate to seek a deal in order to avert a potentially damaging clash with the Catholic Church ahead of May's Scottish elections.

A warning of the Church's intentions is delivered in a letter to churches today by Philip Tartaglia, the Bishop of Paisley, who claims the new legislation represents a "sinister" attack on the Church's values.

"For the first time in the modern era in this country, the Catholic Church is facing the prospect of being forced to act against her faith and against her convictions, or else face legal challenge and possible prosecution," he declares.

Full story at Scotland on Sunday.