CHRISTIAN NEWS NETWORK/ Heather Clark-
The Tennessee House of Representatives has advanced a bill that would protect the rights of faith-based state-contracted foster care and adoption agencies to operate in accordance with their religious beliefs.
House Bill 836, sponsored by Rep. Tim Rudd, R-Murfreesboro, passed 67-22 on April 1, and is now awaiting a committee hearing in the Senate, where its companion bill, Senate Bill 1304, is sponsored by Sen. Mark Pody, R-Lebanon.
“To the extent allowed by federal law, no private licensed child-placing agency shall be required to perform, assist, counsel, recommend, consent to, refer, or participate in any placement of a child for foster care or adoption when the proposed placement would violate the agency’s written religious or moral convictions or policies,” the bill reads in part. Continue reading…
