The Cabinet's most senior Catholic has stepped into the row over gay adoption by insisting that new equality laws must be implemented.
Home Secretary John Reid said the religious objections of some ministers and churchmen must not be allowed to undermine the fundamental principle of equality enshrined in the law.
He was speaking after Prime Minister Tony Blair said he intends to announce a decision next week on whether Roman Catholic adoption agencies are to be allowed an exemption from offering babies to same-sex couples.
Following reports suggesting that he had caved in to resistance from Cabinet colleagues over the exemption, Mr Blair said he was still hopeful of finding a solution which would protect vulnerable children while respecting the sensitivities of both the religious community and supporters of gay rights.
His spokesman declined to discuss reports that this might involve a compromise, under which Catholic agencies would have no exemption from the requirement not to discriminate against gay people, but would be allowed a transition period to adapt to the new rules, due to come into effect in April.
Mr Reid told a Westminster lunch that the provisions of the Equality Act should apply to everyone.
He said: "If you bring in a law which says all people will be treated equally, then all people will be treated equally.
"I don't believe you, in this country, have the right to overrule some of the fundamental values on which the country is based because you have a conscientious objection. That's my view."
And he added: "If somebody says 'I have got problems in accepting this or that piece of equality legislation' - if it is a fundamental value on which the nation is based, we all have to accept it.
"If that causes particular problems for people with conscience, we should try to help to find practical ways round it. So if there's a transitional period - or in Scotland they've suggested other ways of handling this - then by all means do it. But it mustn't overrule the fundamental principle."
