Christian foster couple forced to give up son over gay equality laws
A committed Christian couple have been told they will not be reregistered as foster carers and will have to give up their foster son following their refusal to sign an Equality policy which forbids discrimination on the grounds of homosexuality.
by Daniel Blake
Posted: Friday, October 26, 2007, 13:05 (BST)
A committed Christian couple have been told they will not be reregistered as foster carers and will have to give up their foster son following their refusal to sign an Equality policy which forbids discrimination on the grounds of homosexuality.
Vince Matherick, a 65 year old minister at South Chard Christian Church in Somerset and his wife, Pauline, have been fostering since 2001 and have looked after 28 children.
Earlier this year they were asked to agree to a new Equality policy which would require them to say that homosexual relationships were equal to heterosexual marriages if asked by a child about such relationships.
Mr Matherick explained that he and his wife had never discriminated against anybody, but that they would not teach children about the practice of homosexuality because the Bible condemns any kind of sexual practice outside of a marriage relationship.
The couple have now had to face giving up custody of their 11-year-old foster son after being told that would have to sign the Sexual Orientation Regulations (SORs), which are part of the Equality Act 2006, by social services.
The couple reported that they had been told by officials they would be required to discuss same-sex relationships with their child who is only 11, and tell them that gay partnerships were just as acceptable as heterosexual marriages.
Mr Matherick said: "I cannot preach the benefits of homosexuality when I believe it is against the word of God."
They said that officials had advised them that if children in their care expressed an interest in homosexuality, they would be expected to take them to gay support group meetings.
The couple said that while they would neither condemn nor condone homosexuality, they could not actively promote it because of their religious beliefs.
The Christian minister continued: "They were saying that we had to be prepared to talk about sexuality with 11-year-olds, which I don't think is appropriate anyway, but not only that, to be prepared to explain how gay people date."
Mrs Matherick added: "We feel we are being discriminated against as Christians, and many others are finding themselves in our position."
In response, Somerset County Council have told The Times newspaper that it was committed to the interests of children and young people, and that it welcomed foster carers from all backgrounds and faiths.
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The comments below are readers' personal opinions and are in no way intended to reflect the editorial opinion of Christian Today.
Added: Wednesday, October 31, 2007, 23:01 (GMT)
I don't think that 11 is too young to discuss sexuality with children. They will be hearing about it in the playground and probably in lessons anyway. If anything, it will be embarassing for them if they don't know things that are common knowledge to others.
Taking a child to gay support groups if they feel that they need that is a duty as a parent. How would you feel if you told your foster parents that you were gay (which is not easy to live with and not a choice) only for them to refuse to discuss it with you? Or if you asked about it for the same reason and they refused to discuss it? Is that helpful to the child?
And how would this couple feel if a muslim foster couple refused to take their foster child to a church should they express an interest in christianity? After all, it would presumably be against their religious beliefs as muslims?
Where he gets this "preaching the benefits of homosexuality" from I don't know - he is being asked to discuss it, not promote it as better than heterosexuality.
If you are going to raise a child, you have to do so in the real world.
A. Nonymous, North Wales
Added: Wednesday, October 31, 2007, 0:31 (GMT)
Stand up for your beliefs and dont let it end there get as much support as you can and take it to the MP's do not let this rest - write to Rowan and get the help of local people christian and non-christian.
We help with teens and they are being forced to believe in a certain false religion and although they have no faith yet, they recognise it as wrong and walked out of class - their parents are backing them, but the school is insisting they HAVE TO have this false belief forced upon them! This Nation is becoming in grave danger of the wrath og the one true and almighty God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob. May God bless those in authority with His wisdom before it is too late - look at Iran and Iraq what troubles they are suffering are we going down the same path?
Mrs Jacqueline Brunger, Cirencester UK
Added: Monday, October 29, 2007, 17:35 (GMT)
I think you've missed the point. I don't think anyone insists that foster parents have to praise homosexuality, say it's the greatest thing since sliced bread, that it's really cool. Just that people are homosexual, that they are going to experience hormonal changes and imperatives like their heterosexual friends, and the last thing a you mind wants is to have people tell them how evil they are.
Oh, don't tell me you wouldn't use the word "evil" - I'm pretty sure most of you wouldn't. But that kid is going to be made to feel pretty darned awful at a time in his/her life (ten, eleven, twelve, early teens) when a whole new hormonal agenda is taking over and causing potential problems.
That child will feel the urge to love, and to be told he/she cannot, because of some words in the Bible (and even those words are open to interpretation) is going to create one pretty badly mixed-up kid, carrying around pain for the rest of his/her life, unless he/she can extricated him/herself from the shackles of this medieval thinking. If you really care for the kids, Pastor and other blinkered commenters on this strand, start showing some live instead of bigotry.
Andy Armitage, West Wales, UK
Added: Monday, October 29, 2007, 2:38 (GMT)
Stand your ground, dear Pastor and Mrs. Matherick, we are all one with you in prayer and faith. Stand up for Jesus!
Many hundreds of thousands even millions in many countries [China, as an example] have gone through privation and cruel imprisonment, even death, for their faith in Him.
Praise Him that we are counted worhty to suffer for His Name!
Shalom,
Ong Siong Kai, Jakarta, Indonesia
Added: Saturday, October 27, 2007, 7:38 (BST)
It was only a hundred years ago that homosexuals were put into prison, how long before Christians face a similar fate for standing up for their beliefs in a so called Christian country?
Could pressure to conform to what a certain lobby group believe in to justify their so called 'sexual orientation' be the thin edge of the wedge, or did it happen years ago and they have pushed their agenda slowly and secretly through since the 70's?
This report makes us realise that we must be on our guard against satan's plans as he prowls "like a roaring lion" all the time. Blessings.
Philip Treagus, Reedy Creek Queensland Australia
Added: Friday, October 26, 2007, 20:30 (BST)
What a blatant act of discrimination! Pastor and Mrs. Matherick are to be commended for their courage. We will pray for justice to prevail.
Danielle, Chicago, USA
Added: Friday, October 26, 2007, 14:46 (BST)
It was only a matter of time. it's now official - the start of the persecution of UK Christians
Ruth, UK
