Legislative proposal could close all Catholic adoption agencies in US
June 01, 2011
A bill submitted to the US Congress could bring an end to the work of all Catholic adoption agencies in the US, by requiring agencies to place children in the households of homosexual couples.
The bill introduced by Democratic Congressman Pete Stark of California—and ironically named the “Every Child Deserves a Family Act”—would ban discrimination in adoption and foster-care placement. The bill has 52 co-sponsors in the House of Representatives.
Similar legislation at the local level has led to the closing of Catholic adoption agencies in Massachusetts, Illinois, and San Francisco.
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Posted by: -
Jun. 01, 2011 7:14 PM ET USA
So, what ever happened to litigating such laws as 1st Amendment violations?
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Posted by: DrJazz -
Jun. 01, 2011 11:46 AM ET USA
Another option in these scenarios is for the agencies to refuse to cooperate with unjust laws by continuing to operate as they have. It seems as though most Catholic adoption agencies, conferences and Bishops avoid even discussing this option. Why is that? It would be a powerful witness to our beliefs.
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Posted by: DrJazz -
Jun. 01, 2011 11:42 AM ET USA
The article states: "The bill would affect any adoption or foster care agency that receives federal assistance or contracts with an entity that receives federal assistance." Although I do not know the intricacies of adoption law, it seems to me that step one is for Catholic adoption agencies to refuse all federal assistance and avoid contacting with entities that receive it. Closing Catholic adoption agencies should be the last possible option.
