Mar 2, 2020 at 3:01 AM A few years ago, an LGBTQ couple approached Bethany Christian Services and expressed an interest in becoming foster parents. Bethany Christian, which maintained a contract with the city of Philadelphia to provide foster care, turned them down based on a religious opposition to same-sex unions. The Philadelphia Inquirer ran a story on the incident and mentioned that Catholic Social Services (CSS) had a similar arrangement with the city and also refused to consider LGBTQ couples. After the article appeared, Bethany Christian changed its policy to accept members of the LGBTQ community. CSS did not, and its contract was promptly canceled. It sued the city on the grounds that its religious rights were being violated. Two lower courts ruled against CSS, holding that the same-sex ban amounted to discrimination in violation of the city charter. Last week, the Supreme Court agreed to hear the case. And my reaction was: Amen. Many people mistakenly believe receiving public funds requires you to accommodate — without exception — the requirements and mandates of your secular sponsor, even if they violate your own civil rights. A number of commentators praised the lower court decisions, expressing a view articulated […]
