Illinois Review has just learned that last Friday the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) notified five foster care and adoption agencies connected with Catholic Charities that the state of Illinois is severing all contracts for foster care and adoption. The reason the state gives is that Catholic Charities has indicated they do not intend to "comply with the Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Unions Act. That law applies to foster care and adoption services."
As a result of DCFS' new policy, at least 2,500 cases involving child placement will be transitioned to DCFS-approved and state-affiliated agencies. The fax received by the Peoria diocese states:
In response, the Charities have filed for an emergency restraining order in Sangamon County Circuit Court, as part of their suit to obtain a declaration that Illinois law protects their religious beliefs on not recruiting civil union and other unmarried couples as foster parents.
A hearing on the restraining order is scheduled for Tuesday, July 12 at 2:30 pm Central Time, before Judge John Schmidt. A copy of the emergency injunction and temporary restraining order is available here.
Illinois Review reported earlier Monday on FOIA responses from Attorney General Lisa Madigan's office concerning her investigation into these same agencies, finding one complaint was filed with the AG's office, but in March, the investigation spread from the Lutheran Child and Family Services to Catholic Charities and the Evangelical Child and Family Services.
