Bill aims to protect faith-based adoption agencies
Issues@Hand
AFA initiatives, Christian activism, news briefs
October 2014 – Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) and Mike Enzi (R-WY) have introduced legislation to protect adoption and foster care agencies from being forced out of operation if they refuse to sacrifice religious and moral convictions. As most child welfare services receive federal funds, it is easy for lawmakers to discriminate against faith-based organizations by pulling state funding.
For example, Catholic Charities of Illinois was forced out of operation after a 2011 Illinois law gave all the rights of marriage to people in civil unions, including gay couples. When Catholic Charities announced it would refer couples in civil unions to other agencies, it lost state funding – 50% of its budget - and was forced to close.
