Couple who won’t accept homosexuality win right to foster

A couple who were rejected as foster parents after they refused to condone homosexuality have won their battle to apply to be carers.

Derby city council blocked an application from Eunice and Owen Johns to provide respite care for under-10s after they admitted they could never tell a child that being homosexual was acceptable.

However, the authority has backed down after the Johns, both devout Christians, threatened to seek a judicial review.

The couple, who have four grown-up children of their own, were celebrating on Sunday after learning by letter that they can resume the application process.

Mrs Johns, a 59-year-old school teacher, said: “I really want this to be successful.

“We have a lot of love to give a child. But our religious beliefs are very important to us, and we felt that we had been discriminated against.”

The Johns’ attempt to become respite carers appeared to have failed earlier this year after falling foul of the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation).

The couple have fostered almost 20 children during four years of weekend respite care.

The council refused to comment on its climbdown and did not explain the reasons for its apparent reversal in its letter to the couple.

Technorati Tags: homosexuality, foster parents

Previous entry: Mental health workers rip CPS over sect
Next entry: Newspaper cartoon a hate crime, Islamic group claims

More articles about Homosexuality/Lesbianism/Bisexuality/Transg.