Madam, - Your Editorial of January 26 on gay adoption correctly points out that modern adoption is, or should be, child-centred. However, much more controversially, the Editorial then goes on to say that this principle is not violated when gay couples are permitted to adopt children. You quote "scientific studies" which purport to show that children raised by gay couples do no worse, on average, than children raised by heterosexual couples. You accept the validity of these studies at face value.
However, as Prof Linda Waite of the University of Chicago pointed out in the recent Zappone/Gilligan case in the High Court, these studies are at best inconclusive. They suffer from many serious flaws, such as small sample sizes. Judge Elizabeth Dunne, who heard this case, said in her ruling that she accepted Prof Waite's analysis of the various studies.
Your Editorial should have at the very least pointed out that the research in this area is highly contentious. Until such time as research on children raised by gay parents is much more conclusive, the State must be wary of allowing gays or lesbians to adopt. This is the only truly child-centred approach. - Yours, etc,
TRACY WILLIAMS, Mount Merrion Avenue, Blackrock, Co Dublin.