The Government’s proposal to permit same-sex couples to adopt children has met with the firm opposition of Cardinal Keith O’Brien, archbishop of Edinburgh. During the recent meeting promoted by the Scottish Executive, i.e. the assembly that deals with Scottish domestic affairs, at the end of a four-year review of the adoption system, the Cardinal called the proposal “gravely immoral”, since “denying children the benefits of a mother and a father in a committed marriage will cause great harm to a weak and vulnerable minority we should strive to protect”. O’Brien also recalled some studies that have shown that “among children raised by same-sex couples” there is “a significant increase in low self-esteem, stress, confusion regarding sexual identity, increased mental illness, drug use, promiscuity, sexually transmitted infections, and homosexual behaviour”.” Children he said need a male and a female role model in a permanent relationship”.
