Legislation currently moving through the General Assembly
threatens to strip faith-based adoption agencies of their ability to make
placements in accord with their moral convictions.
“To restrict faith-based organizations’ work by infringing
on religious freedom is unfair and serves no one, especially children in need
of services. We need to increase — not decrease — their opportunities to be
placed with safe and loving families,” said the Virginia Catholic Conference,
the lobbying arm of the Virginia bishops. “Current law simply ensures that no
agencies — including faith-based agencies that follow the teaching that
marriage is between a man and a woman — are forced to participate in placements
that violate their beliefs and moral convictions.”
The bill, H.B. 1051, states that it would, “Repeal
provisions that allowed child-placing agencies to refuse to perform, assist
with, counsel, recommend, consent to, refer, or participate in any child
placements when the proposed placement would violate the agency’s written
religious or moral convictions or policies.”
Art Bennett, president and CEO of diocesan Catholic Charities,
worries how this would affect their agency’s Pregnancy and Adoption Support.
“The conscience clause is better for everyone. It allows birth
parents to find an adoption situation that is the best interest of the child.
It gives them a freedom of choice,” he said. “(Catholic Charities) provides a
service people have used for 70 years. We’re looking at the best interests of
the child, the birth parents and parents, in congruence with God’s will.”
Find out more
To learn more about this bill and contact your legislator,
go to https://vacatholic.org/action-center/?vvsrc=/Campaigns/70351/Respond.
