Christian couple challenge fostering 'ban'

A CHRISTIAN couple who say they have been barred from fostering because of their "traditional" views on homosexuality are to take their case to the High Court.

Eunice and Owen Johns said their local council's fostering panel rejected them as carers because they could not tell a child a homosexual lifestyle was acceptable.

The Johns will go before the High Court, sitting in Nottingham, tomorrow to ask for clarification on the council's stance on the suitability of foster carers who have "traditional beliefs on sexual ethics".

The case, thought to be the first of its kind, has been described by their lawyers as vital for Christian freedoms.

The Pentecostal couple from Derby, who have fostered almost 20 children previously, are not homophobic, according to a legal representative. But they are against sex before marriage - and do not recognise gay civil partnerships. Their beliefs are at odds with Derby City Council's equality policy, drawn up under the terms of the Sexual Orientation Act.

The case has been taken up by an organisation called the Christian Legal Centre, which said it was the first time a British court had been asked to decide how local authorities should deal with foster carers with such views.

Stonewall, the lesbian, gay and bisexual rights charity, has backed the council's position.

The couple's application was withdrawn by the council after a series of meetings and interviews with social workers.

They previously fostered through the authority about 14 years ago, looking after nearly 20 children over the four years in which they provided weekend respite care.