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Romney shifts on adoption by gays
To weigh exemption for Catholic agency
By Patricia Wen and Frank Phillips, Globe Staff | March 1, 2006
Governor Mitt Romney signaled new openness yesterday to considering a request by Catholic bishops to ban gay couples from adopting children from Catholic social service agencies, a shift from earlier comments in which he said he had no authority in the matter.
''We respect and honor the free practice of religion, and we look forward to meeting with representatives from the Catholic Church to discuss this issue," Romney said through a spokesman.
The governor’s shift occurred on the same day that three members of the board of Catholic Charities of Boston resigned over the bishops’ decision to seek the exemption from the state antidiscrimination policy, according to a board member. The 42-member board, which is dominated by lay people, has gone on record unanimously in favor of continuing to allow gays to adopt. The member declined to name the three members who resigned.
The state’s four bishops released a statement yesterday saying they face ''a serious problem in which our religious freedom is challenged" because of the state requirement that they consider gays as adoptive parents. The Vatican has called such adoptions ''gravely immoral."
''Because of the Church’s teaching, Catholic agencies may not provide adoptions to same-sex couples," the statement said. ''Hence we intend to seek relief from the regulatory requirements of the Commonwealth on this issue. We do this in the hope that we will be able to continue focusing our attention on serving children in need of adoption."
Continue reading http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2006/03/01/romney_shifts_on_adoption_by_gays?mode=PF
To weigh exemption for Catholic agency
By Patricia Wen and Frank Phillips, Globe Staff | March 1, 2006
Governor Mitt Romney signaled new openness yesterday to considering a request by Catholic bishops to ban gay couples from adopting children from Catholic social service agencies, a shift from earlier comments in which he said he had no authority in the matter.
''We respect and honor the free practice of religion, and we look forward to meeting with representatives from the Catholic Church to discuss this issue," Romney said through a spokesman.
The governor’s shift occurred on the same day that three members of the board of Catholic Charities of Boston resigned over the bishops’ decision to seek the exemption from the state antidiscrimination policy, according to a board member. The 42-member board, which is dominated by lay people, has gone on record unanimously in favor of continuing to allow gays to adopt. The member declined to name the three members who resigned.
The state’s four bishops released a statement yesterday saying they face ''a serious problem in which our religious freedom is challenged" because of the state requirement that they consider gays as adoptive parents. The Vatican has called such adoptions ''gravely immoral."
''Because of the Church’s teaching, Catholic agencies may not provide adoptions to same-sex couples," the statement said. ''Hence we intend to seek relief from the regulatory requirements of the Commonwealth on this issue. We do this in the hope that we will be able to continue focusing our attention on serving children in need of adoption."
Continue reading http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2006/03/01/romney_shifts_on_adoption_by_gays?mode=PF