“The interests of the child and particularly the most vulnerable children must come first.” That’s what Tony Blair said yesterday, when announcing that Catholic adoption agencies will not get an opt-out from placing children with gay couples under new anti-discrimation legislation.
Yet in the intense debate over gay adoption, there has been very little focus on the interests of vulnerable children waiting for a permanent home - but plenty on Catholics wrestling with their consciences.
One much-quoted point in the media is that Catholic adoption agencies specialise in hard-to-place children. Yes, they do, but so do most adoption agencies. It is hard to find one that doesn’t boast of such expertise.