Sir Elton John has been labelled a sinner by the Ukranian Orthodox Church.
The pop star has been denied permission to adopt a boy from the Ukraine because he's an elderly homosexual.
A spokesperson for the Church has told Britain's Daily Mail newspaper that Elton's same sex relationship is a sin and has thanked God that the country's law has been upheld.
The singer announced on Saturday he and partner David Furnish wanted to adopt a 14-month-old boy called Lev, who had 'stolen their hearts'.
But Ukraine's family, youth and sports minister Yuriy Pavlenko said the adoption was not possible because Sir Elton is too old and is not married.
Adoptive parents must be married under Ukrainian rules and although the celebrity pair have been joined in a civil ceremony, the former Soviet republic does not recognise same-sex unions.
Also, an international children's charity has warned that cases like Sir Elton John's plan may lead to more youngsters being abandoned.
The couple met baby Lev at an orphanage where many of the children's parents have died from Aids.
'Having seen Lev today, I would love to adopt him. I don't know how we do that but he has stolen my heart,' he said.
'And he has stolen David's heart and it would be wonderful if we can have a home.'
But charity EveryChild said high-profile adoptions 'send out the wrong message'.
'Research conducted in Ukraine by Liverpool University found that vulnerable mothers were encouraged by news of wealthy foreigners adopting from children's homes,' said chief executive Anna Feuchtwang.
'(They) place their own children in care in the hope that they would get a better life.'
While the group welcomed Sir Elton's efforts in raising awareness of the plight of children affected by HIV in Ukraine, Ms Feuchtwang said most youngsters there would never by adopted internationally and faced a bleak future.
'Children who grow up in a children's home are much more likely to end up in prison, involved with drugs and prostitution and go on to abandon their own children,' she added.
'The actions of celebrities like Madonna, and now possibly Elton John, could be really increasing the number of children in children's homes in countries like Ukraine.'
The pop star has been denied permission to adopt a boy from the Ukraine because he's an elderly homosexual.
A spokesperson for the Church has told Britain's Daily Mail newspaper that Elton's same sex relationship is a sin and has thanked God that the country's law has been upheld.
The singer announced on Saturday he and partner David Furnish wanted to adopt a 14-month-old boy called Lev, who had 'stolen their hearts'.
But Ukraine's family, youth and sports minister Yuriy Pavlenko said the adoption was not possible because Sir Elton is too old and is not married.
Adoptive parents must be married under Ukrainian rules and although the celebrity pair have been joined in a civil ceremony, the former Soviet republic does not recognise same-sex unions.
Also, an international children's charity has warned that cases like Sir Elton John's plan may lead to more youngsters being abandoned.
The couple met baby Lev at an orphanage where many of the children's parents have died from Aids.
'Having seen Lev today, I would love to adopt him. I don't know how we do that but he has stolen my heart,' he said.
'And he has stolen David's heart and it would be wonderful if we can have a home.'
But charity EveryChild said high-profile adoptions 'send out the wrong message'.
'Research conducted in Ukraine by Liverpool University found that vulnerable mothers were encouraged by news of wealthy foreigners adopting from children's homes,' said chief executive Anna Feuchtwang.
'(They) place their own children in care in the hope that they would get a better life.'
While the group welcomed Sir Elton's efforts in raising awareness of the plight of children affected by HIV in Ukraine, Ms Feuchtwang said most youngsters there would never by adopted internationally and faced a bleak future.
'Children who grow up in a children's home are much more likely to end up in prison, involved with drugs and prostitution and go on to abandon their own children,' she added.
'The actions of celebrities like Madonna, and now possibly Elton John, could be really increasing the number of children in children's homes in countries like Ukraine.'
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