Scottish Catholic Observer

Those fighting to keep Scotland’s last Catholic adoption agency open have spoken of their great relief over the ruling that St Margaret’s Children and Family Care Society can keep its charitable status.

After last Friday’s favourable ruling by the Scottish Charity Appeal Panel (SCAP), Archbishop Philip Tartaglia of Glasgow, president of St Margaret’s, said the Catholic and wider community is ‘grateful’ for the ‘wise decision’ after years of uncertainty, wrangling and legal costs of £150,000.

In its unanimous ruling, SCAP decided in favour of the small Glasgow-based adoption agency, overturning last year’s ruling by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) that St Margaret’s must lose its charitable status as it did not meet the requirements of recent equality legislation. Supporters of the agency, which is approaching its 60th anniversary and survives on donations and through volunteers, have expressed their delight that its vital work for children and families has been ‘recognised’ in the new decision that respects religious freedom.

“The trustees of St Margaret’s are pleased that common sense has prevailed, and we can carry on, as people of religious conviction and belief, to do good work for children and families,” Fr Tom White, executive chairman of the agency, told the SCO. “SCAP clearly acknowledges that St Margaret’s is more than an adoption agency and that the whole purpose of what it is about is the manifestation of its religion and the religion of its members and supporters.”

Responding to last week’s news, Em Bradley, who, with her husband, Scott, has adopted two children through St Margaret’s, said she was ‘thrilled’ with the appeal panel’s decision.

“The possibility that St Margaret’s might not have been able to continue to provide the service it does was a devastating thought,” Mrs Bradley said. “I heard news of the announcement from another couple who had adopted through St Margaret’s and they were similarly thrilled.”

A spokesman for St Margaret’s said that the appeal overturning OSCR’s decision has come as a welcome boost for the society. “We are delighted and relieved that the threat hanging over us has been lifted,” the spokesman said. “Our only wish is to continue to do the good work for which we have been recognised by the authorities, of placing children in need of families with loving parents.”

Responding to the decision, Archbishop Tartaglia said ‘it means that families who are ready to adopt can look forward to the future with a little more serenity, and children in great need can be placed into loving homes.’

The OSCR had ruled against the charity, named among the top three in its category at last year’s British Association for Adoption and Fostering awards, last March after a complaint by the National Secular Society. The regulator ruled that St Margaret’s constitution—which states that the agency is established ‘to assess the suitability of applicants as adoptive parents in accordance with the teachings of the Catholic Church’—did not provide ‘public benefit’ and, therefore, it should be removed from the Charities Register The Scottish Charity Appeal Panel ‘decided in favour of (the) appellant.’.

Despite the possibilities of further challenges to St Margaret’s future, English Barrister Neil Addison—who has been involved with Catholic adoption agencies south of the border fighting similar legal challenges—said he hopes last week’s judgment means the 59-year-old Glasgow-based agency will be able to continue fulfilling its mission in peace.

“I now hope that OSCR will leave St Margaret’s alone and let it get on with its job of helping children, which it has done successfully and compassionately for years,” he said.

St Margaret’s Children and Family Care Society has carried on with its vital work throughout the legal challenges to its status and recently relocated to new premises in Glasgow.

The work of many Catholic charities and agencies in the UK has been threatened in recent years by equality legislation.

—[email protected]

—This story ran in full in the Feb 7 edition print of the SCO, available in parishes