Kelly forced on defensive 'gay law' exemption for churches

13 April 2012

Ruth Kelly was forced on the defensive over claims that she is plotting to give the Catholic Church an exemption from controversial new gay equality laws.

Miss Kelly, a staunch Catholic and member of the secretive Opus Dei organisation, has infuriated colleagues by attempting to water down 2006 Equality Act, which comes into force in April.

It bans discrimination in the provision of goods and services on the basis of sexual orientation and could mean Catholic adoption agencies would be prevented from rejecting gay couples.

Ministers claim she has secured Tony Blair's support for a Catholic exemption after heavy lobbying by senior Church figures.

But the plan appeared to have been crushed after the Lord Chancellor said the Government would not accept discrimination on the basis of religion.

And a spokesman for Miss Kelly's Communities Department said there would be no 'preferential treatment' for a particular faith.

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