Black Community News News and Commentary for Christians
A federal court just ruled in favor of St. Vincent Catholic Charities’ religious freedom after Michigan’s state attorney general threatened to block funding because two lesbians claimed the agency refused to place children in their care.
Roman Catholics believe marriage is the union between one man and one woman.
Despite this belief, the agency had placed children in adoptive homes with homosexuals, according to the Washington Examiner (emphases added).
“What St. Vincent has not done and will not do is give up its traditional Catholic belief that marriage, as instituted by God, is for one man and one woman,” the judge wrote in his official opinion about the case.
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On Thursday, the court said “the State’s real goal is not to promote non-discriminatory child placements, but to stamp out St. Vincent’s religious belief and replace it with the State’s own.” Thankfully, the ruling means St. Vincent’s can continue to operate as litigation continues.
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St. Vincent’s has been accused of bigotry because of their stance on marriage. However, both the lawsuit and the ruling show this is mere conjecture — the agency had placed children for adoption with same-sex couples. In fact, the judge’s opinion disperses with the bigotry claims entirely, and lays out precisely why this ruling was necessary…
Nevertheless, the court ruled that faith-based agencies in the state receiving taxpayers’ money can refuse to place children with homosexuals while the case is pending. The judge contended that the policy discriminated against St. Vincent Catholic Charities and issued a preliminary injunction.
Becket Law represents St. Vincent Catholic Charities. Another client, Catholic Social Services in Philadelphia, is presently in litigation over a similar issue. The city terminated a contract with the agency because it requires foster parents to be married (as defined by biblical teachings), or if single, a birth parent must approve.
