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Bills Would Allow Religious Organizations To Refuse Adoptions

<p><a href="mailto:rickp@mprn.org"><em>By Rick Pluta</em></a></p> <p>In Lansing, a state House panel has approved legislation to allow faith-based adoption agencies to refuse to place children with a family based on a religious objection. Instead, an agency would have to refer a qualified family to an adoption office that would handle the placement.</p> <p>At the same time, the outcome of a federal court case in Detroit could allow same-sex couples in Michigan to adopt children.</p> <p>"We've seen in other states that other faith-based agencies have been forced to close because they've been told to operate outside their religious mission and we want to make sure that vulnerable children here in Michigan are served by a diverse amount of organizations that work to help place children in homes," says David Maluchnik with the Michigan Catholic Conference.</p> <p>Jay Kaplan, of the American Civil Liberties Union, opposes the legislation.</p> <p>"It allows agencies that get state dollars, who are acting as agents of the state, to put forth religious beliefs to trump what's the best interests of children, which should be the overriding concern in making decisions regarding adoption and foster care placement," Kaplan says.            </p> <p>The<strong> </strong>State Bar of Michigan's Family Law Section is also among those that oppose the legislation. The bills could be voted on by the House as soon as next week.</p>