Texas adoption agency 'religious refusal' closer to law
Source: Associated Press
Jim Vertuno, Associated Press
Updated 10:17 pm, Sunday, May 21, 2017
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) Texas Republicans pushed closer to a law that allows publicly-funded foster care and adoption agencies to refuse to place children with non-Christian, unmarried or gay prospective parents because of religious objections.
The Senate gave preliminary approval Sunday night. A final vote, possibly Monday, would send it to Republican Gov. Greg Abbott for his consideration.
The "Freedom to Serve Children Act" has received a late push in the Republican-dominated Legislature ahead of the May 29 end of the session. Conservatives have made creating exemptions for sincerely held religious beliefs a major theme this year, with tea-party-backed lawmakers inserting language protecting them in myriad bills, ranging from rules for the practice of law to pharmacists.
The private foster care and adoption organizations, which are paid by the state to place children with families, make up about 25 percent of the agencies working in Texas. Those groups say they face a threat of lawsuits for exercising their religious beliefs if they don't get specific state legal protection.
Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/texas/article/Texas-adoption-agency-religious-refusal-closer-11163062.php
ck4829
(35,077 posts)LeftInTX
(25,343 posts)Our state is backward.
Our unemployment rate is also now one of the highest in the country, so much for the "conservative business model"
SergeStorms
(19,201 posts)it's bullshit, is what it is! It's REALLY the "Freedom to serve christian fascists" act. They think that someone who's not a "christian" (like them), someone unmarried, or someone who's gay couldn't POSSIBLY love a child enough, or provide a positive role model for them? Again, bullshit!
I've seen these people's "christian love" on display too many times to count. The Westboro Baptist Church is FULL of "good christian love", and I'd bet THEY'D qualify to give these children homes. The religious zealots who force their children to go to those "bible camps", where they're brainwashed and tortured into believing the most ridiculous tripe imaginable would no doubt qualify.
There's too many screwed up kids in this country, but the Texas Republicans are assuring that many of them will receive no help at all, or if they do get placed, it will be with families that believe bronze-aged myths, and act like that hideous Duggar family. Evanhellical Xtians are no more fit to raise a child than ANY loving gay couple, or a committed couple who are not married, or even a stable single person who's willing to mentor one of these children. The people I know in those types of relationships are FAR MORE stable than any of these xtian troglodytes.
Texas. I apologize to our Texas Democrats, but your state is in a real tailspin common sense-wise. It appears as if they want their very own theocracy down in the Lone Star State, and anyone not toeing the xtian line is not welcome.
joshdawg
(2,648 posts)in his eagerness to sign this bullshit into law.
As long as my state is under republican control, yes, it is in a real tailspin.
luvMIdog
(2,533 posts)They are trying to enlarge their fanatical numbers by controlling adoption plain and simple.
keithbvadu2
(36,809 posts)It would be interesting to see one refuse the other on grounds of 'freedom of religion'.