Article raises question whether you can be Catholic believer and Labour MP

Ruth Kelly once argued that one can be a politician and a Roman Catholic. Not a Labour politician, Ruth. From faith schools to abortion, crucial issues pit core Labour members against the teachings of the Catholic Church.

The latest row is over gay adoptions. The Government has decided that, as of April, all adoption agencies will place children with gay couples. The Catholic Church wants its seven adoption agencies to be exempt.

The tussle is over rights: Labour wants to protect gays against discrimination in any sphere. But in so doing, argue the Catholic bishops, Labour is stomping on the right of Catholics to live by their religious code, which preaches that practising homosexuality is a sin. Read more