GOP Protects Religious Adoption Agencies’ Right To Deny Children To Homosexual Couples

The GOP took one extra step to protect religious liberty recently when a U.S. House committee approved an amendment to a Labor and HHS spending bill that would “prevent religious adoption agencies receiving taxpayer money from being forced to violate their beliefs by placing children with same-sex couples,” as reported by LifeSiteNews.

It is undeniable that religious adoption agencies should not be forced to violate their conscience by placing children in homes with relationships they feel do not best serve the child’s needs. Not only does this violate the First Amendment, it turns adoption into a parent-focused enterprise rather than a child-focused one.

Rep. Robert Aderholt of Alabama said the amendment addresses “two serious problems currently facing our nation.”

“First, the current opioid epidemic has caused the number of children in foster care across America to skyrocket,” said Aderholt. “These are children who are in desperate need of finding forever families.”

“Secondly, several states and localities across the country are not allowing religious organizations, such as Catholic Charities and Bethany Christian Services, to operate child welfare agencies,” continued Aderholt. “The reason for this is simply because these organizations, based on religious conviction, choose not to place children with same-sex couples.”

The congressman added that the discrimination of these agencies in service of LGBTQ interests does nothing to help the children.

“The amendment I introduced seeks to prevent these governments from discriminating against child welfare providers on the basis that the provider declines to provide a service that conflicts with its sincerely held religious beliefs or moral convictions,” added Aderholt. “Furthermore, it would require the Department of Health and Human Services to withhold 15 percent of federal funds for child welfare services from states and localities that discriminate against these agencies.”

All Democrats voted against the measure, which passed the House committee 29-23. Only one Republican voted against it.

Obviously, LGBT activists disagree and now say the amendment gives religious adoption agencies the “license to discriminate.” House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said the amendment represents “a sickening new low,” and a “disgusting, deeply immoral and profoundly offensive effort.”

A representative of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) said the House demonstrated they thought it was more important to “discriminate than it is to find loving homes for children in need.”

“Congress should be focusing on ways to help children in the child welfare system find homes rather than creating needless obstacles for prospective parents, effectively shrinking the pool of qualified folks who want to provide children with a loving home,” said HRC.

As noted by LifeSiteNews, “shrinking the pool of qualified folks” only occurs when governments stop adoption agencies from doing business due to their religious beliefs.