Since the Scottish government unveiled proposals to approve the rights of child adoption for same-sex and unmarried couples last Friday, churches in Scotland have condemned the move as "gravely immoral" and have expressed their worries regarding the impact the proposals will have on the second generation.

Cardinal Keith O'Brien, the leader of Scotland's Roman Catholic Church said the plan was "clearly not in the best interests of children". He commented that "such a measure would distort the understanding of the family, cause harm to children and promote the status of homosexual relationships", according to the Scotsman.

"Homosexual unions are notoriously fragile and unstable, and the small number of homosexual couples living together make the suggestion that this measure would increase the number of potential adoptive parents unrealistic," he explained.

He added that the move was "gravely immoral" and contradicted the United Nation's convention on the rights of the child.

Currently, unmarried and gay couples are allowed to adopt children, but they can only be registered as single parents and cannot register the adoption with their partner. The controversial plans to entitle them to the same rights as heterosexual couples was suggested by Euan Robson, the deputy education minister.

As run-away child problems are rising in the UK due to divorce or other family problems, there were 3,468 children in foster care last year, the most in 20 years. Of these, up to 600 were in need of immediate adoption.

Nevertheless, the Church of Scotland is more concerned about the provision of a stable environment for the development of a child.

Morag Mylne, convener of the Church of Scotland's church and society council, said, "For a child, welfare is seen in terms of security and happiness and stability and a loving environment.

"The church sees marriage as the best way of providing exactly that situation of stability and security and happiness."