Doctor fighting religious discrimination claims

This article is published in today's Northants Evening Telegraph:

Doctor fighting religious discrimination claims

A Christian doctor who resigned from the county's adoption panel told an employment tribunal she believes children placed with same-sex couples are more likely to become gay themselves.

Dr Sheila Matthews, 52, of Kettering, who is bringing a case of religious discrimination against Northamptonshire County Council, said she began researching the issue of same-sex adoption after a training course in March 2004.

She told the hearing in Leicester yesterday: "The child is likely to be subjected to attitudes and influences which promote homosexual relationships rather than heterosexual relationships.

"This means children are more likely to consider or be involved in homosexual relationships themselves.

"Lesbian communities often present an anti-male bias and this may be difficult for boys. Boys without a father can grow up believing the father role is not important and will lack a good role model for being a father themselves or having a healthy heterosexual relationship."

Dr Matthews, a community paediatrician with the council since 1991, was on a panel responsible for interviewing couples hoping to adopt but asked permission to abstain from voting in cases where homosexuals applied to adopt due to her beliefs.

She lost her job last year but was partially reinstated to the panel without any voting rights – in both cases of homosexual and heterosexual couples. She resigned in March last year.

She said: "As a Christian, my faith leads me to believe that marriage between a man and a woman in a faithful monogamous sexual relationship is the most appropriate environment for the upbringing of children.

"The Bible is also clear that homosexual practice is not how God wants us to live."

She added: "Having considered research and opinions from different sources I became aware there was evidence to suggest that children placed with same sex couples did less well. I am aware that there are different viewpoints but I believe that there are many reasonable people who believe as I do.

"The gay lifestyle is one which attracts risks for many reasons and it is not appropriate to encourage children towards it. These risks include mental health problems, including depression, suicide and substance misuse. There is increased incidence of sexually transmitted diseases and certain cancers.

"The overarching principle of adoption is to seek the best interests of the child who has already experienced disadvantage."I believe that I am being discriminated against on the grounds of my religion or belief, a belief that is supported by rational scientific research."

Martin Pratt, the council's former head of services for children, young people and families, told the tribunal: "I asked her whether she could consider applicants on their merits. She said she could not.

"She did not believe it was in the interests of the child to be adopted by a same-sex couple.

"She said she had a religious objection and made reference to there being some research.

"Both of these were part of Dr Matthews' reasoning for her decision.

"Primarily it was a religious matter, I think. Her inability to act fully in her capacity posed a serious problem."

The three-day hearing is expected to finish today.