Judge Steps In, Allows Catholic Charities to Temporarily Continue Foster Care Services

By Chuck Sudo in News on Jul 13, 2011 1:17PM

A judge in downstate Sangamon County granted a temporary injunction to Catholic Charities in their ongoing dispute with the state over whether they can refuse to provide foster care and adoption services to same-sex and unmarried couples in violation of the Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Unions Law.

Judge John Schmidt set a date Aug. 15 date for a full-scale hearing, saying "we're not going to be removing children from homes." The State Department of Children and Family Services, with Gov. Quinn's support, terminated foster care and adoption contracts with Catholic Charities for the seven dioceses across Illinois Monday. State officials have been investigating religious agencies like Catholic Charities that provide foster care and adoption services for months to determine if their position on refusing to serve unmarried or same-sex couples is a violation of the Civil Unions Law. Catholic Charities contends that requiring them to provide these services to gay and unmarried couples is a violation of the religious protections built into the law.

Hanging in the balance is the future of thousands of children in the foster care pipeline through Catholic Charities.