“Faith-based adoption and foster care agencies should not be discriminated against because of their religious beliefs. Today the Supreme Court heard oral arguments as to whether or not the Constitution holds that to be true. Catholic adoption and foster care agencies in Philadelphia have been placing vulnerable children into loving homes for more than 200 years without discriminating on the basis of religion, race, or sex. Now they’re forced to ask the Supreme Court for the same protection, since the local government has essentially forced them to close because of their religious beliefs about marriage. Philadelphia’s discriminatory actions against Catholic Social Services are part of a lengthy trend of anti-Catholic bigotry in America that needs to be quashed. The fate of America’s most vulnerable children hangs in the balance.”
Ashley McGuire – Senior Fellow with The Catholic Association
“As an adoptive mom, I know that there is nothing more important to a vulnerable child than finding a safe and loving home as quickly as possible. Catholic agencies have been finding families for the hardest-to-place children for 200-plus years — serving all the neediest children, regardless of race, religion, or sex. Now, their vital contribution is endangered, as are the at-risk children they assist, because of Philadelphia’s discriminatory move to shut the agencies down for adhering to their deeply-held religious beliefs on marriage. The Supreme Court has the opportunity to protect not only the religious freedom of Catholic Social Services and all people of faith as enshrined in our Constitution, but also vulnerable children in need of forever homes.”
Dr. Grazie Pozo Christie – Policy Advisor for The Catholic Association.
“For 200 years, Philadelphia’s Catholic Social Services tirelessly rescued the suffering children trapped in foster care by placing them in loving homes. In a politicized and heavy-handed decision, the city of Philadelphia excluded Catholic Social Services and their partner families from its foster care program, leaving 250 children in limbo awaiting a foster home. In oral arguments today, Justice Kavanaugh pointedly asked why city officials provoked this unnecessary fight since there are 30 other foster care agencies in Philadelphia that place children with same-sex couples. Justice Thomas focused on the bigger question of whether foster care programs exist for the good of vulnerable children or to advance the rights of LGBT of adults. Great questions to which the lawyers for Philadelphia had no good answers. Indeed, the city’s lawyer said the best interest of the child might be considered in individual matching decisions, but not in government contracting decisions. We hope the Court will side with the needs of children and the people of faith at Catholic Social Services who have demonstrated heroic love for vulnerable foster kids for two centuries.”
Maureen Ferguson – Senior Fellow for The Catholic Association.
