Edinburgh official apologizes for ‘distress’ caused to grandparents who opposed homosexual adoption

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Comments: 10

Edinburgh, United Kingdom, May 7, 2009 / 12:14 am (CNA).- Edinburgh city council chiefs have admitted mistakes in the treatment of the grandparents of two children placed with a homosexual couple for adoption, apologizing for the "distress" social workers may have caused.

A social worker allegedly told the grandparents that they would have no further contact with the children after they went public with their objections to a homosexual adoption, the Scotsman reports.

Earlier this year, it was reported that the two grandparents, aged 59 and 46, were told they were too old and unfit to care for their grandchildren, whom they had been caring for because of their mother’s struggles with heroin use.

The two grandparents defended their custody rights against four successive legal challenges from the local adoption and foster council, but abandoned their legal fight because of potential legal fees and concerns for the stability of their grandchildren’s lives.

However, they were later informed that their grandchildren would be placed with a homosexual couple. The grandparents claimed that social workers told them their access to the children would be restricted if they opposed the homosexual adoption. They were allegedly threatened that they would never see their grandchildren again because they had made public the fact of the adoption.

The Scotsman reported on Sunday that chief social work officer Michelle Miller, replying to the grandparents’ official complaint, said she could not comment on the allegedly threatening conversation.

However, she said it would have been better if staff had held a face-to-face meeting with the grandparents.

"I apologize for any distress that not doing so may have caused," she said.

According to the Scotsman, the grandmother said "We just want our grandchildren back. The council has not behaved at all well."

Comments: 10

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Barbara
Idaho US 05/10/2009 09:45 AM EST

Since when are the grandparents not capable of raising grandchildren?
This stinks to high heaven.
Not enough orphans for adoption so they still someones children to satisfy a strangers demand for children!
Politically correct at its worst.

Published by: Dayna
King, NC USA 05/09/2009 08:38 PM EST

So sad. I read in a recent article that the adoptive parents had said the little boys wellington boots were waiting at the back door for him to wear when playing. OH-big deal. Compare the boots to a big hug from granddad. This tells how much he knows about love. Take these little children from a loving home and give them to people that have to learn to love them. This is so evil. The social worker should be fired NOW. She should be investigated. As my sister wrote earlier, a paper trail of her purchases should be fully investigated. Did she make large purchases while the adoption was being processed. Did she deposit a large sum of money. Keep the pressure on so the people will know. We wonder, did the men pay for the adoption. Do you believe it is possible the social worker sold the children? How did she get this position in the first place. I have seen her picture and I know a person can't decide the looks they are born with, but if she had a kind heart, she could improve on the sour, evil look. She looks so hard. I pray the little souls will be returned home ASAP. I live in another country and can't help. If I lived in Scotland I would find a way to help the grandparents. This family has had their heart pulled out by the roots. Everyday counts. Bring the children home where they belong. My grandparents are from Scotland, I have heard so much about your beautiful country.

Published by: Lorraine
King, NC USA 05/09/2009 07:27 PM EST

This is horrific. How could this happen? I do hope the investigation will look into the social workers background. Did she spend a sum of money around the time this adoption happened? Is it possible she sold these children? Please ask the investigators to check any large purchases she made around this time. She has to be a cruel, evil woman and should not be working with children. I did see her picture, I believe she is evil. Please get this little brother and sister back home soon as possible, and before something bad happens to them. I would just love to give them a hug.

Published by: Lynn Arlene Rossiter
Los Angeles 05/08/2009 04:40 PM EST

Let's see - the natural grandparents at age 59 and 46 were deemed "too old and 'Unfit'" to care for their own grandchildren? I was raised by my grandparents from birth to age 15 while my grandmother was age 55 to 70. There must be something more to the story of these grandparents. Besides the childrens' grandparents would be the natural and right choice to raise them. Why is it that we are so enamored of homosexual individuals and they have more priority than the children's natural grandparents? This is totally wrong. Period.

Published by: Rob B
London 05/08/2009 08:24 AM EST

Rate: Bad

I can't believe the homophobia I am reading here - regardless of the incompetence of the social workers, how dare you describe adoption by a gay couple as an "entirely unsuitable environment". I suppose you would prefer the junkie mother?

Try and see past your bigotry and realise that a gay couple is just 2 people, like any other couple. Some are good, some are bad, some are suitable parents, some aren't. Their suitability as parents should be based on their abaility to lveo and nurture the child, not their sexual orientation.

Published by: Randy
Windsor, Canada 05/08/2009 04:07 AM EST

Edinburgh has nothing to apologize for. Indeed, they should be commended for placing the children in a home where they will be loved and protected, and for ensuring that the grandparents will not be able to sabotage the children's relationship with their parents.

Published by: Patricia
Scotland 05/07/2009 06:09 PM EST

Odd isn't it, that women in their sixties are given "fertility treatment" to have babies artificially without anyone batting an eyelid. Edinburgh City Council is a disgrace for removing these children from their grandparents to place them in an entirely unsuitable environment. Where are all the Catholic lawyers when you need them?

Published by: Raymond Peringer
Toronto, Canada 05/07/2009 04:14 PM EST

Three crimes were committed against this couple.

1. Depriving them of the right to rear their grandchild. History is replete with stories of successful people thus raised.

2. Abuse by politically correct social workers. I doubt they will be reprimanded for their gauche behaviour.

3. The social workers brought to bear on the grandparents unlimited access to legal resources.

The fourth crime is to us all. The legal adoption by homosexuals shows the undue influence of about four per cent of the population on our politicians and judges.

Published by: Doug
Portland, Or 05/07/2009 03:37 PM EST

This is history repeated. Like the USSR where children belonged to the state, so we are on the same path. Conscience cannot be tolerated by any state that demands that every knee shall bow to state goals. First abortion, next euthanesia, and now children will be torn from their grandparents. Will your children be removed from your care because they attend Mass?

Published by: james Maher
Ireland 05/07/2009 01:17 PM EST

Beware - this is more of what's coming down the tracks from the EU!

The"Equal Treatment" Directive has farseeing implications for churches, schools, orphanages etc which, if this Directive is passed, will not be allowed to discriminate on the grounds of religion, belief, age, disability or sexual orientation.

This case seems sick in that, even if these grandparents are deemed too old to be the children's parents, they should, at least, have some say in to whom the children are given responsibility for.

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