Judge: Illinois Can Stop Working With catholic Charities
Good news from the state of Illinois! Less money to the catholic church.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — An Illinois judge ruled Thursday that the state can stop working with Catholic Charities on adoptions and foster care placements – something the state decided to do in July after the not-for-profit agency refused to recognize Illinois’ new civil unions law.
Well, if they can’t follow the law – why give them money.
Illinois authorities had said they were canceling the contracts because Catholic Charities’ practice of referring unmarried couples to other agencies was discriminatory, a violation of the state’s civil union law. Catholic Charities argued it was exempt under civil unions and another state law that protect religious practices.
State and Federal law must superseded religious practices.
Among its arguments, Catholic Charities said it was entitled to a hearing over the canceled contracts because after 40 years of annually renewed pacts, the organization had developed a “property interest” in the work and should be able to object to state action.
If they wanted to keep the work they should have stopped being anti-gay bigots.
A spokeswoman for the state attorney general, who represented DCFS, said the decision “will allow the state to continue focusing on what’s best for the care and well-being of children.”
Now the state can give that money to an non-religious organization. It is a win for the kids and the people of Illinois.
