A couple who protested against their grandchildren being adopted by two gay men have been told they will not be able to see the children until they drop their opposition.
According to press reports, the grandfather was told: “You can either accept it, and there’s a chance you’ll see the children twice a year, or you can take that stance and never see them again.”
The grandparents were told by social workers in Edinburgh that at 46 and 59 they were too old to adopt the children themselves.
Instead, the council decided to place the grandchildren – a four-year-old girl and five-year-old boy whose mother is a recovering heroin addict – with a homosexual couple.
The children’s grandparents have protested that their best interests were not being served by denying them a mother figure.
Social workers have themselves admitted that the little girl is “more wary” of men than of women. They also revealed that several heterosexual couples were keen to adopt the children.
The grandparents’ own bid was rejected because of their ages and health problems. The grandfather has angina, and his wife receives medication for diabetes.
They tried to challenge the decision in court, but after two years conceded defeat and were assured by social workers they would still be able to see the children.
But the tone of the authorities changed when the grandparents rejected the view that adoption by same-sex parents would best meet the children’s needs.
They were told that the social workers would “certainly look” at allowing them access to the children “when you are able to come back with an open mind on the issues”.
The grandfather said: “The ideal for any child is to have a loving father and a loving mother in their lives.
“But in our society the mother is generally the cornerstone of the family and the most important person for a young child.”
His wife added: “It’s so important for children to fit in, and I feel our grandchildren will be marked out from the start when they draw pictures of their two dads.”
Peter Kearney, a spokesman for the Roman Catholic church, said: “This is a devastating decision which will have a serious impact on the welfare of the children involved.
“There is an overwhelming body of evidence showing that same-sex relationships are inherently unstable and reduce the life expectancy of those involved.
“With this in mind, the social work department has deliberately ignored evidence which undermines their decision and opted for politically correct posturing rather than providing stability and protection.
“It is impossible to see how this decision is in the best interests of the children.”