They have been devoted foster parents caring for 18 vulnerable children over the years. They are also believing Christians.
After a short time off when they became too busy with their catering business, they reapplied to provide weekend respite care to children under 10.
Now it appears that they can never foster again all because they do not believe that homosexuality is an acceptable life style. Though why that's an issue for children under 10 is beyond me.
Christian couple told: 'You can't foster if you think it's wrong to be gay'.
The couple's case comes at a time when there is a chronic shortage of foster parents, who work on a voluntary basis. Around 8,000 more are needed nationally.
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"They were asking: "What would you do if a 10 year-old child came home and said they had been picked on because they were homosexual?"
"They said, "Do you know you would have to tell them that it's ok to be homosexual?"
"But I said I couldn't do that because my Christian beliefs won't let me. Morally I couldn't do that, spiritually I couldn't do that.
"I said I was there to explain that I would not compromise my faith.
"I said I would have to tell the child that as I am a Christian I don't believe in homosexuality but I can give as much love and security as I possibly can."
Mr Johns, 63, a metal polisher, said: "I would love any child, black or white, gay or straight.
I just wonder how many children will linger in foster care uncared for and unloved because of their private beliefs are forbidden by such government regulations.
Posted by Jill Fallon at February 28, 2008 10:26 PM | PermalinkTimes have changed since my wife and I were foster parents about thirty years ago. I don't recall the issue's coming up, but we were doing foster care specifically for pre-adoptive infants. I agree with you that for kids under ten the matter is of little imporance. This illustrates political correctness run amok.
I came across a tragic story yesterday
(http://post-christian-pastor.blogspot.com/2008/03/learning-can-suck.html)
underscoring the trauma that foster care can visit on those doing the caregiving. I want to say something constructive but I can't think of anything.
Posted by: John Ballard at March 6, 2008 7:51 AM
John
I read the story you pointed to and I feel for the foster parents whose charge is suffering such a terrible personal trauma that it's imperiling their marriage.
Seems to me we need to take better care of our caregivers. That couple seems to need a respite which is just what the English program was supposed to do.
Posted by: Jill at March 6, 2008 10:08 AM