One Less Bigot: Magistrate is backed in gay adoption row
Heather | 26.01.2007 18:59 | Gender | Other Press | Sheffield
A LEADING figure in the study of homosexuality has spoken out in support of a Christian magistrate from Sheffield who stepped down from the family bench rather than place children with gay couples.
Andrew McClintock: Tribunal
Dr Dean Byrd flew in from Utah, America, to address the Sheffield employment tribunal of Andrew McClintock and support his claim that placing a child in the care of same-sex couples was not "in their best interest".
Dr Byrd, clinical professor at the University of Utah School of Medicine and vice president of the controversial National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality, said in a written statement "the placement of children in such settings begins a slippery slope filled with potential harm for children that society simply cannot afford to take".
Mr McClintock, a grandfather-of-four, quit because he said his Christian Orthodox view is that a child "needs a mother and a father".
The 63-year-old, who served on the Family Panel for 15 years, has taken the Department of Constitutional Affairs to the tribunal after court authorities refused to allow him to stand down from cases which could result in a child being placed with a gay couple.
In support of his case, Dr Byrd said in evidence: "The most reputable scientists would agree the research on children raised by same-sex couples is in its infancy.
"However, in spite of the many flaws in the very limited pool of rigorous studies, such as small sample size, selection bias, and lack of longitudinal data, there appears to be an emerging theme: children raised by same-sex couples exhibit poor outcomes not so dissimilar to those raised by divorced heterosexual parents."
Mr McClintock had a series of meetings with court authorities before resigning. He aired his concerns in 2004 - shortly before the Civil Partnership Act enabling gay couples to marry was passed by Parliament. He told the hearing: "There was no pressure at that time on me, but I could see there was likely to be growing pressure as the thing moved forward."
Mr McClintock, from Nether Edge, told the panel only in "special cases" would he agree to placing a child with a same sex couple.
He had hoped court authorities would accommodate him by putting in a filter so he could be excused from dealing with such cases.
Under cross examination Mr McClintock agreed he would have found it an acceptable solution if the court authorities had offered him the option to stand down from family court duties while maintaining his criminal bench work - rather than resign.
But instead he claims he was backed into a corner and felt he had to resign.
When asked about the implications of his resignation Mr McClintock told the hearing: "It was a loss to my self esteem and not a financial loss. I lost an office which I once held - not a huge detriment."
The hearing continues.
Dr Byrd, clinical professor at the University of Utah School of Medicine and vice president of the controversial National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality, said in a written statement "the placement of children in such settings begins a slippery slope filled with potential harm for children that society simply cannot afford to take".
Mr McClintock, a grandfather-of-four, quit because he said his Christian Orthodox view is that a child "needs a mother and a father".
The 63-year-old, who served on the Family Panel for 15 years, has taken the Department of Constitutional Affairs to the tribunal after court authorities refused to allow him to stand down from cases which could result in a child being placed with a gay couple.
In support of his case, Dr Byrd said in evidence: "The most reputable scientists would agree the research on children raised by same-sex couples is in its infancy.
"However, in spite of the many flaws in the very limited pool of rigorous studies, such as small sample size, selection bias, and lack of longitudinal data, there appears to be an emerging theme: children raised by same-sex couples exhibit poor outcomes not so dissimilar to those raised by divorced heterosexual parents."
Mr McClintock had a series of meetings with court authorities before resigning. He aired his concerns in 2004 - shortly before the Civil Partnership Act enabling gay couples to marry was passed by Parliament. He told the hearing: "There was no pressure at that time on me, but I could see there was likely to be growing pressure as the thing moved forward."
Mr McClintock, from Nether Edge, told the panel only in "special cases" would he agree to placing a child with a same sex couple.
He had hoped court authorities would accommodate him by putting in a filter so he could be excused from dealing with such cases.
Under cross examination Mr McClintock agreed he would have found it an acceptable solution if the court authorities had offered him the option to stand down from family court duties while maintaining his criminal bench work - rather than resign.
But instead he claims he was backed into a corner and felt he had to resign.
When asked about the implications of his resignation Mr McClintock told the hearing: "It was a loss to my self esteem and not a financial loss. I lost an office which I once held - not a huge detriment."
The hearing continues.
Heather
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Comments
Hide the following 3 comments
Evidence needed
28.01.2007 09:13
Social Services try to place babies with what they consider well balanced couples, expecting them to grow into more baby producing adults. But there could be a case for putting boy babies with couples where the man is a brutal bully. One family of that type produced a natural son who grew to be a transvestite, and went for a sex change. The father held a job that caused him to be much admired in his community so that the son considered that to be an admirable man one had to be like the father. It was something that produced total revuilsion in him. One thing is now sure, he is not going to produce any children of his own.
If whoever he partners up with wants to adopt a child, would that Christian Magistrate be right to refuse? Is he going along with all thoise book blinded Catholics and Moslems who cannot see that with Human population growing to destroy this Creation of Life on the planet, the natural cycles to control it being overcome by Scientists allied withj Satan, the last throw of God is to create many more people as Homosexuals so that the human population shall be brought under control.
Homosexuals, that term includes Lesbians, who feel powerful parenting instincts should be allowed to adopt children rather than use AI until such time as there is evidence that they bring up more malignants like Politicians, Priests, or the murderous sex perverts than are produced in approved normal relationships..
Perhaps I am getting onto dangerous ground there, -has there been a proper study done of the family backgrounds of enough serial sadistic sex killers to be properly cited as evidence?
Ilyan
Freedom of thought
29.01.2007 00:15
Phil Brick
Freedom of thought . . . but not discrimination
29.01.2007 12:57
There are no laws against any religion, but if your personal / religious beliefs mean that you don't believe in certain people sharing a bed, then don't run a B & B, if you don't believe in certain people adopting children, don't have a job that involves approving adoptions, it's simple, live and let live.
Due to personal beliefs which I hold I am vegan; I am not going to get a job in the local butchers, and then claim they are violating my rights by making me sell meat.
H
H