UK government pushes ahead with gay adoption law

LONDON - British Prime Minister Tony Blair said today there would be no exemptions to new gay rights laws for faith-based adoption agencies -- but the new rules will not come fully into force until the end of next year.

Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, had called for special exemption and his plea was backed by both Anglican and Muslim leaders.

But Blair said: "I support the right of gay couples to apply to adopt like any other couple. That is why there can be no exemptions for faith-based adoption agencies offering publicly funded services from regulations which prevent discrimination." He said the government would send regulations to parliament for approval. They would include a transition period until the end of 2008 before they came fully into force.

- REUTERS