Catholic Charities ends Illinois adoptions after anti-gay amendment killed
Thu. May 26, 2011 7:30 PM by GoPride.com News Staff
Springfield, IL -
Catholic Charities of Rockford announced Thursday they will end their adoption and foster services in Illinois after an amendment designed to discriminate against same-sex couples was killed in the state Senate.
House Bill 3184 passed the Senate yesterday without Amendment 2 attached. The Amendment would have allowed Illinois religious agencies the right to discriminate against couples in a civil union who are applying to adopt or foster a child.
"While I am pleased that the Amendment is dead, I am mindful that this is a sad day for the many foster families and parents involved and the children who are in the care of Catholic Charities," stated Anthony Martinez, The Civil Rights Agenda (TCRA) Executive Director. "Those are the victims in this, and my heart truly goes out to them. This is a sad display of bigotry by Catholic Charities, and their bigotry will now be harming the children in their care."
TCRA and a number of other gay rights advocacy groups worked with legislators to kill the discriminatory legislation.
The Illinois Department of Child and Family Services has anticipated the Catholic Charities action and has a contingency plan in place.
House Bill 3184 passed the Senate yesterday without Amendment 2 attached. The Amendment would have allowed Illinois religious agencies the right to discriminate against couples in a civil union who are applying to adopt or foster a child.
"While I am pleased that the Amendment is dead, I am mindful that this is a sad day for the many foster families and parents involved and the children who are in the care of Catholic Charities," stated Anthony Martinez, The Civil Rights Agenda (TCRA) Executive Director. "Those are the victims in this, and my heart truly goes out to them. This is a sad display of bigotry by Catholic Charities, and their bigotry will now be harming the children in their care."
TCRA and a number of other gay rights advocacy groups worked with legislators to kill the discriminatory legislation.
The Illinois Department of Child and Family Services has anticipated the Catholic Charities action and has a contingency plan in place.