Christians barred from being foster carers decide not to launch appeal
A CHRISTIAN couple have decided not to appeal against a High Court decision that ruled their views on homosexuality were a bar to them becoming foster carers.
But Eunice and Owen Johns plan to take their case to Parliament, with the launch of an equalities and conscience petition.
It will call on the Government to review the equality laws and re-visit "the absurd human rights agenda, including the Human Rights Act".
The launch of the petition comes just days after Prime Minister David Cameron backed the High Court ruling and said the judges' decision should stand.
Mr and Mrs Johns' case went to court after Derby City Council said it could not decide whether the couple could become foster carers because they did not meet minimum guidelines.
This conclusion was reached after Mr and Mrs Johns told a city social worker they would not tell a child that homosexuality was acceptable because of their Christian beliefs.
The Oakwood couple have been taking advice from the Christian Legal Centre, which backed the judicial review in the High Court.
Barrister Paul Diamond, who represented Mr and Mrs Johns, advised them not to appeal the decision. He said: "In my opinion, it would be futile – a waste of resources.
"Recent equalities legislation and its interpretation in the courts has led to several Christians being barred from different areas of public life and employment.
"This creates a serious obstacle to the Christian community's full and active involvement in the Government's Big Society initiative.
"There is no reason in law why sexual orientation rights should prevail over religious rights.
"There is something deeply and ethically wrong with the ethical and legal compass of Britain."
The Johns are seeking wide support across the Christian community.
They will be lobbying MPs and members of the House of Lords to seek a review of the Equality Act.
Mrs Johns, 62, said: "We are not doing this just for ourselves but for thousands of Christians in a similar position."
The Pentecostal Christian couple first applied to the city council to become foster carers four years ago.
But, despite having fostered 15 children during the 1990s, new rules applicable since 2007 meant the couple had to satisfy a different series of guidelines.
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by Guy Not Gay, Spondon
Saturday, March 12 2011, 8:50AM
“@guy not gay.
Don't worry friend, I have reported you for an abusive post.
Thanks to people as mentioned above this society is being held back from progression.
I do neither support nor condone homosexuality, what I do support however is a society where we can all co exist amongst one another.
Its people like the reported couple and the offensive person as mentioned that need to be dealt with accordingly.
Now lets grow up and start living as a civilised society, and no corrupt nonsense, people should wake up and keep their offensive views to themselves.
I for one do not have tunnel vision. steve, derby
You must have or you would allow others to have an opinion, So as long as we all agree with YOUR thoughts we are OK are we? NO NO NO Friend we have a right to say what we like Freadom of speach, or are you waiting for Sharia Law, now that is another issue.”
by Stephen, Derby
Saturday, March 12 2011, 1:38AM
“If everyone could take a step back from the religion thing and view this couple as (part-time) parents, would you, as a parent when faced with a question about life, give a balanced view and let the child make up their own mind? Or give a bigoted view and close that child's mind off? This is not about religion, it is about basic parenting. The Johns have lost (or now proved they never had) that ability. The Johns should keep their extremist views to themselves when dealing with other peoples' children. The point that is continually missed here is that they are being paid by the state to look after someone else's child. It is completely right and proper that the state seeks to protect that child from extremist or bigotted views. If you were the parent of that child, how would you feel if you knew that foster parents were filling your child's head with their own views? That is not what they are there for and quite rightly the court has seen that. I'd rather we were 450 foster parents short than 449 short with one bigotted couple infecting another couple's child with hate against other human beings.”
by Mum, Derby
Friday, March 11 2011, 11:24PM
“Also noticed that none of the 15 children they have fostered over the years has made a statement to back up what kind of foster parents they were.”
by Mum, Derby
Friday, March 11 2011, 11:21PM
“So they arent bothered about fostering after all ? Now they are more interested in challenging the house of parliament, this is one time I actually agree with a decision made by social services that this couple should definately not be allowed to foster. Theres a very fine line between being devout and stubborn”
by steve, derby
Friday, March 11 2011, 9:38PM
“Justice prevails!!”
by steve, derby
Friday, March 11 2011, 8:40PM
“@guy not gay.
Don't worry friend, I have reported you for an abusive post.
Thanks to people as mentioned above this society is being held back from progression.
I do neither support nor condone homosexuality, what I do support however is a society where we can all co exist amongst one another.
Its people like the reported couple and the offensive person as mentioned that need to be dealt with accordingly.
Now lets grow up and start living as a civilised society, and no corrupt nonsense, people should wake up and keep their offensive views to themselves.
I for one do not have tunnel vision.”
by Stephen, Derby
Friday, March 11 2011, 8:21PM
“I haven't read that in the Bible Trevor. Where did you read that story?”
by Ben, Derby
Friday, March 11 2011, 6:40PM
“EM News states there is a shortage of about 450 foster families, no wonder as they are turning law abiding people away.”
by Anon, Derby
Friday, March 11 2011, 6:39PM
“Rob......Elton John and his partner wanted a child so they made someone else pregnant and then took the baby away from it's natural mother so they could keep it for themselves. Sorry but I do not see anything natural in that at all.”
by Craig, Derby
Friday, March 11 2011, 6:18PM
“I thought we'd seen the last of this dreary case. I wonder if we are going to have updates every time the Johns decide not to do something? ZZZzzzzzz.....”