The Christian Institute is calling for prayer after an amendment was tabled in the House of Lords seeking to allow faith-based adoption agencies to place children with married heterosexual couples only.

It follows the court victory this week of the Leeds-based Catholic Care adoption agency over laws forcing it to consider placing children with homosexual couples.

Faith-based adoption agencies are forced under Labour’s homosexuality equality laws to consider same-sex couples as adoptive parents, despite it going against their religious beliefs.

The laws, which came into force in 2007, have led to the closure of some Catholic adoption agencies and led others to abandon their Christian ethos.

Colin Hart, Director of The Christian Institute, welcomed the Catholic Care ruling but said the amendment tabled by Lib Dem peer Shirley Williams would offer protection for all faith-based adoption agencies.

“The amendment, if successful, would be a lifeline to all faith-based adoption agencies (Evangelical or Roman Catholic) to operate in accordance with their beliefs about marriage,” he said.

“Surely it cannot be right for the state to penalise the belief that vulnerable children are best off with a mum and a dad who are married.”

Mr Hart called on Christians to pray that the amendment would be passed and that all political parties would support freedom of conscience.

The amendment is due to be debated in the House of Lords next Tuesday.