A SECULAR society has criticised a decision allowing a Catholic adoption agency to keep its charitable status.

St Margaret's Children and Family Care Society in Glasgow was warned by the charity regulator it could lose its charitable status unless it changed its adoption criteria and included same-sex couples.

But the ruling was overturned on appeal to the Scottish Charity Appeals Panel.

Terry Sanderson, president of the National Secular Society, said: "This ruling makes highly dubious claims that need to be tested. Unfortunately it kicks a hole right through the Equality Act."

St Margaret's president Archbishop Philip Tartaglia said: "St Margaret's does great work for the community."