Christian couple denied from adopting kids after comments about "gay parents"

A Christian couple in the U.K. has been denied from adopting their two foster children after they shared their concerns about a gay couple raising the children.

According to the Telegraph, the unnamed couple had been looking after the kids since the early part of the year. They reportedly "expressed a degree of shock and asked if it was a 'joke' when they heard that a gay couple was being put forward to adopt the children.

The Christian couple, who had biological children, submitted a formal application to adopt the children two days later. However, their application was denied by the council, stating that their views about gay parenting were "concerning" and "could be detrimental to the long-term needs of the children."

They claimed that they had previously expressed interest in adopting the children but their social worker said that their house was too small. They are being told now that the move to a new family could put "emotional stress" on the children.

In their notes regarding their conversations with the social worker, the foster father had stated that it would be difficult to explain the possibility of having gay parents to one of the children, who was expecting a "new mummy."

The couple is now appealing against the decision of the council. They maintained that they had "not expressed homophobic views, unless Christian beliefs are, by definition, homophobic."

"We are Christians and we expressed the view that a child needs a mother and a father. We expressed our views in modest, temperate terms based on our Christian convictions. We love everyone (regardless of sexual orientation) and we love the children and believe that they would benefit from the foundation offered by a mother and a father," they added.

They expressed their beliefs that the decision is discriminatory and not related to the needs of the kids. When the foster father was asked how he would react if one of the children came out as gay, he replied, "It is hard to accept, but we would accept it."

Their appeal is being supported by Andrea Williams of the Christian Legal Centre. Williams' organization also defended a Christian judge who was dismissed after he made a controversial comment about same-sex adoption last March.