Ill. Judge Restores State Deals With Catholic Adoption Agencies

An Illinois judge has temporarily reinstated state adoption and foster-care contracts with Catholic dioceses that have refused to comply with the state’s new law on civil unions, according to the Associated Press.

In a ruling Tuesday, Sangamon County Circuit Court Judge John Schmidt said the abrupt termination of the contracts could affect the well-being of about 2,000 children placed in foster care by Catholic Charities and ordered that the deals remain in force pending a hearing next month.

Illinois’ Department of Children and Family Services let its decades-long contracts with the Catholic groups lapse last month after the charities said they would not place children with couples in civil unions.

The Joliet, Peoria, and Springfield dioceses sought an injunction, saying the state decision interferes with their religious practices.