CARDINAL Keith O'Brien said the government's decision to compel Catholic adoption agencies to place children with same-sex couples was evidence of a "deeply hedonistic society", where ancient morals were being replaced by "issues of life-style and choice".

The Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh, the leader of Scotland's 800,000 catholics, makes his first comment on the issue in today's Scotsman in which he calls on Gordon Brown, the Chancellor, and David Cameron, the leader of the Conservative Party, to support the Church's position.

He writes: "Political leaders ... have praised Catholic agencies for their work abroad. We ask now that they allow us to carry on our equally valuable work at home."

The cardinal's comments follow the government's decision not to allow the Church to opt-out of anti-discrimination laws, which it insists will force the two Catholic adoption agencies in Scotland to close rather than be compelled to place children with homosexual couples.

Meanwhile, Tony Blair, the Prime Minister, yesterday suggested Catholic agencies could team up with non-faith-based organisations to comply with the anti-discrimination laws.

The Prime Minister said he understood "totally" the Church's objections to gay couples adopting, but added: "We don't want a situation where we are discriminating against people on the grounds of their sexuality."http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=200412007