The First Tier Tribunal (Charity) has rejected Catholic Care’s latest appeal, stating that there were no “errors of law” in its judgment that the adoption agency could not discriminate against same-sex couples wishing to use its services.

Principle judge Alison McKenna confirmed in a recently-released decision paper that the First Tier Tribunal (Charity) would not grant permission for Catholic Care to appeal to the next stage in the legal hierarchy, the Upper Tribunal (Tax and Chancery Chamber).

However Catholic Care does still have the right to ask the Upper Tribunal (Tax and Chancery Chamber) directly for permission to appeal.

Catholic Care has been fighting since 2008 to overturn the Charity Commission’s ruling that it cannot changes its charitable objects in order to prevent same-sex couples from using its adoption services.

The charity could not be contacted at the time of publication to confirm its plans.