CHRISTIAN NEWS NETWORK/ Heather Clark-
The U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) has filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court in favor of a faith-based foster and adoption agency that lost its child placement relationship with the City of Philadelphia because of its protocol not to place children in the households of unmarried couples, which would include homosexuals. The DoJ believes that the agency was “targeted” by the City and “singled out” for discrimination because of its faith-based policies.
“The City’s investigation … ‘singled out’ religious organizations for ‘discriminatory treatment,’” wrote Solicitor General Noel Francisco. “It did so, moreover, even though there was ample reason to believe that secular organizations were considering protected criteria listed in the Fair Practices Ordinance as well.”
“That pattern of discriminatory enforcement violates ‘the First Amendment’s guarantee that our laws be applied in a manner that is neutral toward religion,’” he said, likewise stating elsewhere, “Philadelphia’s actions in this case burdened Catholic Social Services’ exercise of religion in a manner that the Free Exercise Clause prohibits.” Continue reading…
