Two Christian social workers were threatened with dismissal from their jobs for their opposition to adoption by homosexual couples. This was reported by The Daily Telegraph on May 11 this year.
Norah Ellis and Dawn Jackson, experienced social workers employed by Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council, were warned in a letter that they would face the termination of their employment if they were "not able to work with same-sex couples.'
As they had never formally canvassed their views with colleagues or superiors, the letter came as a shock. The bitter conflict was finally resolved when, under the threat of legal action, the council finally relented, offering reinstatement after some further clarification. The two women, however, decided that the threats had made it impossible for them to return to their jobs. They were given positions elsewhere in the authority. The fact that these experienced children's social workers felt unable to continue in their existing jobs has led to proposals from some MPs for the creation of a conscience clause in the new legislation to protect people who have religious objections to placing children with homosexual couples.
