Anglicare rejects adoption

Anglicare rejects adoption

The CEO of Anglicare has written to NSW MPs urging them to oppose Sydney MP Clover Moore’s same-sex adoption bill.

In his letter Anglicare CEO Peter Kell cited 11 reasons why same-sex couples should not be allowed to adopt.

“Men and women complement each other in their parenting roles as a result of their inherent physical, psychological and emotional attributes,” Kell wrote.

“Optimal care for children consists of being in a family with both a mother and father. Adoptive children should not be denied this opportunity.”

Anglicare advertised for foster parents in GLBT media as recently as 2007. However, Kell said there was no double standard in Anglicare opposing same-sex couple adoption even though children in foster care were often from special needs categories.

“Adoption is a permanent situation whereas fostering is not,” Kell wrote. “Therefore a cautious approach is required where the decision is irreversible, as would be the case in putting the child in an unusual family configuration.”

NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby policy coordinator Senthorun Raj told Sydney Star Observer Kell’s comments were hypocritical.

“Its an absolute double standard. If same-sex couples are eligible to parent children from vulnerable and displaced homes as foster carers then they are capable and able to parent adopted children in their families in the same way,” Raj said.

“What Mr Kell fails to acknowledge is that a lot of the children living with foster carers are in their permanent care and the reform will allow those same-sex parents to formalise their relationships to those children and ensure the rights and benefits conferred by legal parentage will continue after the child turns 18.”

Anglicare and CatholicCare have threatened to close down their adoption services if they are forced to deal with gay and lesbian couples, something the NSW Government is keen to avoid.

NSW Community Services Minister Linda Burney told ABC News Cabinet would discuss amending the bill to exempt Anglicare and CatholicCare.

“Anglicare and Centacare not only are adoption agencies, they also work very closely and are important partners in our fostering endeavours in NSW,” Burney said. “I think the exemption is sensible and I think it’s important that it’s there.”

The other adoption agency in NSW, Barnardos, has not sought an exemption.

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5 responses to “Anglicare rejects adoption”

  1. I hope this “private members bill” to allow equal rights to step-child and full joint adoption to same sex couples passes into law by both houses of NSW parliament, remember there will be a “conscientious vote” (as did the equal age of consent laws in 2003 and the legalization of male homosexuality under the Wran Government way back in 1984)!!!

    This proposal to allow gay adoption dates back to 1997 that recommended:

    (a) “Both de facto same sex and opposite sex couples have equal rights in adoption laws under NSW legislation”.

    (b) “Implement a provision to establish step-child adoption rights for both de facto same sex and opposite sex couples within NSW legislation”.

    Also remember in 1997 the Royal commission into corruption recommended:

    (a) Gay men to have an equal age of consent under sexual offences laws set at 16 under NSW legislation along-side heterosexuals. [this was implemented by early-2003]

    (b) Toughen the penalties for corruption, provocation, blackmail, extortion, terrorism and defamation offences within NSW legislation. [this was mostly implemented by 2005]

    (c) Introduce legislation to punish hate crimes or stirring-up hatred or severe ridicule on any person or groups of people. [this was not yet implemented]

    Also “altruistic” surrogacy parentage for two gay men (as already in both Queensland and Victoria) must be provided here in NSW law as well, and I hope a bill gets introduced very soon – since it was an election promise back in 2007!!!!!

  2. Peter Kell needs to tell my children who have lived with our family in Foster care that they are not permanant.
    How dare he pretend to understand whats best for kids.
    Many children live with one parent why should these children not be awarded two parents .
    his he going to tell the children in care living with same sex couples that they cannot be adopted by both carers. does he think he’s God.
    Are they again not able to have a family who truly loves them.
    For many kids its the only way they can be secure and be safe.
    Stop judging people by their sexual preference but by the rewards and future they can offer our most vunarable kids.
    Hetrosexual Mum

  3. Blackmail seems to be missing from the practices of Jesus in all my different versions of the bible

    He in fact says blessed are the meek, render unto ceaser what is ceasers, turn the other cheek and much more besides.

    So Anglicare is disobeying the words of Jesus, no christians are they.

  4. I thought the bible verse ‘suffer the little children’, meant to allow the children into salvation. From Angli-‘Don’t-Care’s actions, what it really means is, suffer the little children into political fodder – political sacrificial pawns.

    Thanks state government for showing Australia how to deal with black mail.

  5. Anglicare has emotionally abused all the children in its care by threatening to two them out onto the street should they be forced to even refer a Same-Sex couple for adoption. DOCS has a legal responsibility to remove all children in Anglicare. They have said on record they will withdraw all services. They did not think of the impact of fragile children in there care. They have been utter bastards.

    In addition to this abuse they are preferring children rot in there institutions rather then place them with a loving Same-Sex couple. This is yet more child abuse.

    My sister was raped by Anglican Priest in one of there institutions. We just had a Sorry Day for victims of Church and State run institutions. Yet in the year 2010 Anglicare still demonstrates they are last people who should have any say over the well being of a child.

    DOCS must step in and do there job. They now have a letter on record of abuse by Anglicare to all politicians. They must act for the well being of the child and not let Anglicare abuse children anymore.