Christian couple barred from fostering due to religious beliefs – lawsuit
A Catholic Couple Fights for Their Right to Foster Children
A Catholic couple in Massachusetts is taking legal action against state officials who allegedly denied them the opportunity to foster children based on their religious beliefs about marriage and sexuality. According to court documents, Mike and Catherine ”Kitty” Burke went through the certification process to become foster parents in 2022, but were deemed unfit by the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families after a series of home visits.
The Burkes have filed a lawsuit with the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, claiming that the state deliberately discriminated against them because of their faith. In a news release, they expressed their devastation at the decision, stating, “We were absolutely devastated to learn that Massachusetts would rather children sleep in the hallways of hospitals than let us welcome children in need into our home.”
During the home visits, the couple faced numerous questions about their beliefs on gender, sexuality, and marriage. They made it clear that they would love and care for any child, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. However, they also expressed their belief in living a “chaste life” and their desire to have conversations with the child about these topics. Additionally, they stated their belief that marriage should be between a man and a woman and that they would not support a medical gender transition for their child.
After the visits, the Burkes’ application was sent to the Department of Children and Families’ Licensing Review Team, which ultimately rejected their application due to concerns about their views on LGBTQIA placement. This decision has left the department with a shortage of foster families, resulting in children being held in hospitals instead of being placed in loving homes.
Lori Windham, vice president and senior counsel at Becket, emphasized the importance of families like the Burkes in providing vulnerable children with loving homes through foster care. She questioned how Massachusetts could justify leaving these families, and families of other faiths, out in the cold and failing to provide homes for children in need.
#BREAKING: Massachusetts is banning loving, qualified couples from welcoming vulnerable children into loving homes through the state’s foster care program. Why? Because of their religion. We’re going to court to stop it. Read the complaint: https://t.co/F5QVX5kQVH
— LoriWindham (@LoriWindham1) August 8, 2023
The Massachusetts Executive Office for the Department of Health and Human Services and DCF commissioner’s office have not yet responded to requests for comment.
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The post Blue State Bars Christian Couple from Fostering Children Because of Religious Beliefs - Lawsuit appeared first on The Western Journal.
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