Illinois Catholic Charities Ending Foster Care, Adoptions

Catholic Charities in Rockford, Illinois announced last Thursday that rather than violate its religious beliefs by allowing unmarried or same-sex couples to adopt or foster children, they would stop providing foster care and adoption services. Illinois’ civil union law, which takes effect this week, forces 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 to protect faith-based groups from being forced to violate their beliefs about which homes are best for kids. Catholic Charities of Rockford handles about 350 foster family and adoption cases and works with 11 counties in northern Illinois. [HuffingtonPost.com]