An evangelical adoption agency in the United Kingdom has vowed to challenge a decision by the Court of Appeal requiring the organization to violate its biblical beliefs and place foster children with same-sex couples.

In Friday’s ruling, Cornerstone (North East) Adoption and Fostering Service was permitted to work exclusively with Christian caregivers, however, the married couples seeking to adopt can’t be exclusively heterosexual.

Simon Calvert with The Christian Institute, which is representing Cornerstone said, “What the court has done today, in the name of opposing discrimination, is actually to support discrimination by a powerful state regulator against a small voluntary group.”

He continued, “This shocking defence of state over-reach in religious matters fundamentally misunderstands the nature of Christianity.” The Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Ofsted) downgraded Cornerstone from “good” to “requires improvement” in 2019 after accusing the agency of discriminating against LGBT couples.

During a High Court hearing in July 2020, Justice Julian Knowles said the agency “must change its recruitment policy to allow gay men and lesbians who are evangelical Christians to apply to become prospective foster parents, and it cannot lawfully refuse to do so.” Cornerstone disputed the order, stating that its refusal to place children with same-sex couples was justified based on its religious freedoms. READ MORE