A Christian
magistrate in the United Kingdom stepped down because he
would not allow gay couples to adopt children, according to
a story published Tuesday in The Times of
London. Andrew McClintock, 63, an opponent of
adoption by gays, had previously written to his
superiors requesting that he be exempt from hearings
involving same-sex couples by April, when a law allowing
such adoptions would take effect. McClintock announced
his resignation after his request was denied.
A Christian
magistrate in the United Kingdom stepped down because he
would not allow gay couples to adopt children, according to
a story published Tuesday in The Times of
London.
Andrew
McClintock, 63, an opponent of adoption by gays, had
previously written to his superiors requesting that he
be exempt from hearings involving same-sex couples by
April, when a law allowing such adoptions would take
effect. McClintock announced his resignation after his
request was denied.
In March,
McClintock, a magistrate for 18 years, took his superiors to
court, claiming that he endured discrimination because of
his religious beliefs. He lost his case. At an appeal
trial Monday, McClintock’s attorney, Paul
Diamond, argued that his client had valid reasons to
question whether living with a gay couple would be in the
child’s best interest.
“It is
possible to argue that a child can thrive in a same-sex
household,” Diamond said, according to The
Times. “What is more difficult to argue, however,
is that it is anything but experimental.”
Adrian Lynch, a
representative of the country’s Department of
Constitutional Affairs, said it was parliament, not the
magistrates, who set adoption standards.
“The
judge’s duty is to apply the law,” Lynch told
The Times. “The truth is that Mr.
McClintock was refusing to apply the law.”
(The Advocate)
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