CHICAGO (CN) - Catholic Charities in the Dioceses of Springfield, Peoria and Joliet sought an emergency to let them turn away couples in civil unions as foster parents. The charities seek court permission to refer couples in civil unions to other child welfare agencies.
Catholic Charities asked a Sangamon County Court judge to issue an injunction to prevent the Illinois attorney general and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services from enforcing new anti-discrimination policies that include civil unions, which took effect last week.
Catholic Charities would work exclusively with married and single people.
"Not a single prospective foster parent is being denied the right to apply by not having Catholic Charities work with them," attorney Peter Breen, executive director of the Thomas More Society representing Catholic Charities, told The Associated Press.
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