Catholic Archbishop disappointed, Durham scorns 'arrogance'

The head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales said last night that he was deeply disappointed by the failure to allow a waiver for religious adoption agencies, but pledged to work with the Government to find a way forward.

Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor welcomed its wish to keep the expertise of Catholic agencies and the two-year independent assessment plan.

The Anglican Bishop of Durham, Dr Tom Wright, said: “This completely fails to take into account the views and beliefs of all those involved. The idea that new Labour — which has got every second thing wrong and is back-tracking on extended drinking hours, is in a mess over this cash-for-peerages business, cannot keep all its prisons under control — the idea that new Labour can come up with a new morality which it forces on the Catholic Church after 2,000 years; I am sorry, this is amazing arrogance on the part of the Government.” Read more