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 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 their policy to accept members of the LGBTQ community. CSS did not, and their contract was promptly canceled. They sued the city on the grounds that their religious rights were being violated. The named plaintiff was Sharonell Fulton, a foster parent who had worked with the Catholic agency for many years. Two lower courts ruled against CSS, holding that the same-sex ban amounted to discrimination in violation of the city charter. Many people mistakenly believe that 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 by one […]
