An interesting article in todays Cath News. Isn't it how interesting when God is taken out of a society, in the name of freedom of belief, the ones whose beliefs are first persecuted are those that believe in God:
Noted US Vaticanologist John L Allen has warned against a trend towards "criminalisation of religious opposition to homosexuality" following a UK Government decision to refuse to allow Catholic adoption agencies to bar services to gay couples.
Mr Allen says that the Blair government decision last week is a trend that poses deep challenges to the Catholic Church. "Not only in terms of legal exposure, but its capacity to articulate a positive message on sexuality and the family".
The ruling by the British Blair government means that government-funded Catholic adoption agencies in the UK will not be exempted from complying with proposed new rules allowing gay adoption.
Mr Allen characterises the story as part of a "cultural 'mega-trend' in the affluent North" involving "a collision between the irresistible force of the gay rights movement, and the immovable object of religious commitment to traditional 'family values'".
Citing recent court battles in Sweden, Canada, France and the US, Allen warns that courts may increasingly be asked to hear appeals from Christians who believe they're being discriminated against for their views on gay rights.
"It's not much of a stretch", Mr Allen continues, "to imagine pastors being fined or even imprisoned for statements opposing the rights of homosexuals to marry or adopt."
What a very sad situation it seems we are heading towards. That's what happens when Christians lose their faith and stop standing up for what is right. As the saying goes, 'evil happens when good men do nothing'.
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