ROCKFORD, Ill. — Catholic Charities of Rockford, Ill. — which works with 11 counties — has decided to stop offering foster care and adoption services rather than violate its religious beliefs in light of Illinois’ new civil unions law.
The law, which took effect June 1, would have forced adoption agencies that receive state aid to place some children in homes with same-sex couples. The Legislature failed to pass an amendment to the law that would have protected faith-based groups from being forced to violate their deeply held beliefs about which homes are best for children.
“The law of our land has always guaranteed its people freedom of religion,” said Penny Wiegert, the Rockford Diocese’s director of communication. “Denying this exemption to faith-based agencies leads one to believe that our lawmakers prefer laws that guarantee freedom from religion. We simply cannot compromise the spirit that motivates us to deliver quality professional services to families by letting our state define our religious teachings.”
Catholic Charities of Boston also chose to drop its adoption services when Massachusetts legalized same-sex “marriage.” (TAB)
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