Michigan agrees faith-based adoption agencies can refuse to place children with same-sex couples

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – The state of Michigan has agreed to a proposed settlement with faith-based adoption agencies under which the agencies can refuse to place children with same-sex couples, Church Leaders reports. The settlement was reached after the US Supreme Court ruled in favor of a Catholic child placement agency on a similar issue.

The proposed Michigan settlement was filed in the federal court on Tuesday after the state Department of Health and Human Services said it is bound by the US Supreme Court ruling in a 2019 case brought by the Lansing-based St. Vincent Catholic Charities, which limits enforcement of non-discrimination policies, Church Leaders said.

“While this outcome is not what we hoped for, we are committed to providing support to the many members in the LGBTQ+ community who want to open their hearts and their homes,” Demetrius Starling, executive director of Michigan’s Children’s Services Agency, said in a statement.

David Maluchnik, spokesperson for the Michigan Catholic Conference added in a separate statement: “We believe this agreement advances the common good, benefits Michigan’s vulnerable children, and upholds the constitutional right to religious liberty that is a cornerstone of our state and nation,” said Michigan, like most states, contracts with private agencies to place children from troubled homes with new families.

The agreement must still be approved by the federal judge for it to be made official, Church Leaders reports.

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