Written by Don Byrd
The LATimes reports an end to the lawsuit challenging Illinois’ foster care restrictions. Catholic Charities organizations claimed the new law barring state-funded foster care service providers from discriminating against same-sex couples violates their religious freedom rights. The groups have now dropped those lawsuits.
In a statement Monday, diocese officials in Joliet, Springfield and Belleville said the decision was reached “with great reluctance.” The Catholic Diocese of Peoria withdrew from the litigation last month.
It became financially impossible for the remaining Roman Catholic agencies to continue and the courts had refused to grant a stay in the case, the officials said.
“Since we now need to close offices and terminate employees, further appeals would be moot,” said the statement from the three dioceses.
