heart of oak

Apologies if this topic is in another forum. Here in the UK a devout Christian couple who have been succesful foster parents for many years have now been banned from fostering any more children because of their views regarding homosexuality. They take the view that homosexual practice is wrong in Gods eyes and in all conscience could not teach a child in their care that homosexuality is a valid and true life path. Among other things the authorities said that this couple would be of little or no help to a child undergoing confusion about his or her sexuality. Do you think the authorities are right to take this view or that this is yet another example of it being "wrong" to be a Christian and follow the teachings of the Bible? For me the jury is out....is this merely to be applied to gender issues, or could it be feasibly applied to other issues such as religion? Are they just forcing their beliefs on young people or having the courage of their convictions and "Walking the walk" and not just talking the talk. I search my conscience and ask what I would have said to my own son and daughter if they told me they were homosexual, or Pagan, or Buddhist. Teenagers get pretty mixed up, would I alienate them or encourage them ??

Is there not an altar, or crucifix, or statue or cross of any kind in your church?

I have always thought that ritually the Catholic Church is the most beautiful. I know that the robes of The Blessed Virgin were originally Red and Black,which is where the name for the Ladybird or "Our Ladys Bird" is taken from. When my older brother died his funeral was a form of catholic service in a catholic church as my sister in law is devout catholic and permission was obtained for my brother to be buried in a catholic cemetary. Interestingly in the church where his funeral was held is a painting of the Virgin and she is surrounded by pentagrams, a form of 5 point star used by Paganism today, each point representing the five elements sacred to them. When I asked why it appears on this painting I was told that the pentagram was used by early Christians too, only each point of the star represented to them the 5 wounds of Christ. Maybe anyone of the Catholic faith on here could elaborate on this. I don't know but I think that Mary is maybe seen as a perfect female role model in a patriarchal, male dominated religion. I do think though that the Catholic religion is very beautiful.