Gay Tolerance a Deciding Factor for Foster Parental Rights

A British couple who have taken twenty-eight foster children in their home have had an eleven year old taken from them because they refused to teach him tolerance for gays.

Vincent and Pauline Matherick, both in their sixties, are Christians and do not believe that gays should be able to adopt foster children. Because of this belief, they are in violation of British law, which states that foster parents have to teach their adopted children that homosexuality is equal to heterosexuality.

The British newspaper the Telegraph quoted Vincent Matherick in an online article about the incident. "We have never discriminated against anybody but I cannot promote homosexuality when I believe it is against the word of God." (1) He went on to explain that he didn't think it was appropriate to discuss sexuality to an eleven year old, regardless of orientation.

"We feel we are being discriminated against as Christians, and many others are finding themselves in our position," stated Pauline Matherick in the same article.

The Mathericks are both ministers at South Chard Christian Church in their home in Somerset, which is in southwest England.

An article on Daily Mail's website reported that the Mathericks refused to sign a contract by Somerset County Council's social services department to agree to the Sexual Orientation Regulations. (2) The Labour Party introduced it as part of their Equality Act of 2006, which makes discrimination against sexual orientation illegal.

When the Mathericks were told that because of their violation they would have their foster son taken away, they asked if they could care for him until a permanent home was found, but he was taken to a youth hostel. Pauline Matherick reported that the young man was distraught, "but he's a mature young man and
he's dealing with it." (2)

What makes this case so distressing is that there is a shortage of foster parents in Britain, and the Daily Mail reports that "an extra eight thousand" foster parents are needed to make up the gaps in the system. While the Mathericks have a clean record and began taking in young single mothers and their babies, and now have six grandchildren and one great grandchild, their refusal to sign the Sexual Orientation Regulations contract have made it impossible for them to take in other children.

The Telegraph reported a quote by Valerie Riches, the founder president of Family and Youth Concern: "This is rather typical of the distorted view of equality that this Government seems to have." (1)

It's understandable that equality should be stressed for those who will care for children, but individuals have a right to believe what they want, even if it's intolerant of other lifestyles. It doesn't seem as if the Mathericks are the sort that burn crosses or hang nooses, so to deny them parenting right seems unbearably cruel. The situation is upsetting, especially since the young boy has already lived with them for a year, and as Pauline Matherick states in the Daily Mail article, they are "all very close". The British government is infringing on the rights of individuals and interfering with their religious beliefs, even if it's something I personally disagree with.

The couple is taking their case to the Lawyers' Christian Fellowship, as reported in the Daily Mail article, and I for one hope they get their son back.

SOURCES:

1 - "Christian foster parents condemn 'gay laws'" By Jonathan Petre, Telegraph.co.uk. October 24, 2007
(http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/10/24/nfoster124.xml)

2 - "Foster child to be taken away because Christian couple refuse to teach him about homosexuality"
By James Mills, Dailymail.co.uk. October 24, 2007 (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=489285&in_page_id=1770)