The state of Illinois has announced it will not renew its foster care and adoption contracts with Catholic Charities across Illinois, because the group has said it would not comply with the state’s new civil unions law.
Catholic Charities wants to be exempted from the law, and deny adoption and foster care services to gay couples, but Gov. Pat Quinn said the law granting same-sex couples many of the same rights as married couples is staying put.
On Friday and Monday, the Department of Children and Family Services notified Catholic Charities organizations in four suburban or Downstate dioceses that the agency intended to terminate their foster-care and adoption contracts with the state because of the church’s unwillingness to abide by Illinois’ new civil unions law.
“They made a choice,” Quinn said of the dioceses. “They have a law in Illinois. It’s the civil unions law. I signed it into law. We’re not going back. Any organization that decides that because of the civil unions law that they won’t participate voluntarily in a program, that’s their choice.”
Illinois’ civil unions law requires any charity that accepts state money to provide child-care services to treat people in civil unions as it would treat married couples. The state provides Catholic Charities $30 million annually for its services.
In April, the state Senate voted down a measure that would have allowed religious and faith-based groups to deny same-sex couples from adopting or fostering children.
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GOOD! Separation of church/state baby!
If you can’t follow the rules, don’t play the game, especially when it is the Taxpayers monies that are being played with!
I’m sorry for all the children but i love how illinois puts his foot down! it certainly shows the true colors of those catholic charities… aparently dicrimination is more important that providing a loving home for children…
I love it!!! Keep your church outta my state!
Another example of the morality of the pedophile church
^Gary, that may be insulting to pedophiles.
I wish all states were as outspoken about this as Illinois. I was adopted through a Catholic agency, and I still can’t stand them. Respect the law! I’m sure Illinois can do A LOT with the $30 million they’ll be saving!
These kids are wards of the state, anyway, not private properties of these indoctrination centers that are religious institutions. Let the state take care of its wards.
Hells Yes! Great decision. I’m so sick of Religious Fascists and their many acts of douchebaggery. Show some love at Beauty by Shana and Tiny Tillia by Shana :-)
I’m really sorry for the kids that may lose on having a loving familiar.
I can’t believe the Catholic church won’t even consider the children. They’d rather see them homeless.
don’t let the door hit cha…
@Lisa, I’m pretty sure the state will be using more of this 30M$ for the children than the church has been doing while bragging about their holy charity to anybody who would listen, and anybody who wouldn’t too.
That’s my state. Fighting ignorance!
Go Illinois!!!
Right on!
Yea and see how many more will be adopted now that we have the church out of it.
Not really surprised at this; Catholic Charities love their institutionalized bigotry. Yet another reason I refuse to support them in any way.
“The state provides Catholic Charities $30 million annually for its services.” State money? State rules.