Catholic Charities Files Injunction to Protect Itself from Foster Parent Denials

By Chuck Sudo in News on Jun 7, 2011 7:20PM

Catholic Charities is continuing to split hairs as to who they say they will or will not provide adoption services and foster care. Earlier today in Sangamon County Circuit Court, Catholic Charities for the Joliet, Peoria and Springfield Dioceses filed suit against the Illinois Attorney General's office and the state Department of Children and Family Services and are seeking an emergency injunction that would protect them and other religious agencies from denying unmarried couples - including those in civil unions - from becoming foster parents.

The three dioceses contend that they are legally justified from referring non-married, cohabitating couples to other child welfare services if they wish to become foster parents, based on their moral code. Attorney Tom Brejcha of the Thomas More Society, which is representing the charities in the lawsuit, said “Religious and faith-based entities need not check their beliefs at the door when providing vital social services for the benefit of needy and vulnerable children and families in Illinois."

Although the Rockford Diocese ceased adoption and foster care services over their opposition to the Illinois Civil Unions law, and the Peoria and Joliet Dioceses temporarily suspended foster care and adoption services over the same, their pattern of refusing non-married couples foster care licenses or the right to adopt predates that.

Attorney General Lisa Madigan's office received a letter in March that stated Catholic Charities "discriminates against Illinois citizens based on race, marital status and sexual orientation" in determining who they license for foster care or provide adoption services.

Springfield Catholic Charities executive director Steven Roach said after this morning, "It’s tragic that there are people who believe unnecessarily disrupting the lives of thousands of vulnerable children is an acceptable outcome in this situation."

He likely wasn't looking at his reflection.