Photo Caption: A sample letter as well as a contact list of legislators is found online at the Catholic Charities website.

By: By Tom Dermody

While encouraged by an Illinois judge’s ruling temporarily allowing Catholic Charities to continue providing state-funded foster care and adoption services, officials in the Diocese of Peoria are asking for the help of concerned citizens ahead of the next court hearing Aug. 17 in Springfield.

“We remain hopeful that a resolution will be achieved that above all serves the best interest of children and families while recognizing and protecting our religious freedom,” said Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, on July 18.

To that end, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Peoria is welcoming letters to legislators urging state leaders to work toward a solution in an ongoing dispute over the legislative intent of the recently implemented Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Unions Act. (A sample letter as well as a contact list of state and federal legislators is found online at CCDOP website.)

The act, which took effect June 1, gives a measure of legal status to same-sex couples. Catholic Charities in the dioceses of Peoria, Belleville, Joliet and Springfield have asked for a legal ruling to confirm that current Illinois law protects their tradition of referring unmarried, cohabitating couples (both opposite sex and same sex) who want to become foster or adoptive parents to other agencies.

State officials have said the act would not allow such referrals, and on July 8 the Illinois Department of Childran and Family Services sent a letter to Catholic Charities agencies in the four dioceses effectively terminating contracts with them.

Bishop Jenky and other Catholic officials in the state praised a July 12 ruling by Sangamon County Circuit Judge John Schmidt that said the state’s surprise action ? supported by Gov. Pat Quinn ? risks causing “irreparable injury” to the nearly 2,000 foster children involved.
The judge issued a temporary injunction allowing the agencies to continue providing state-funded foster care and adoption services pending the Aug. 17 cour hearing.

“We’re not going to be removing children from homes. I can’t be any clearer,” said Judge Schmidt.

On July 18, it was further clarified that the Department of Children and Family Services and Catholic Charities should continue business as usual until that time, including receiving referrals for new child placement cases in foster care programs.

“It’s encouraging that we will receive a full hearing and the court has determined there are merits to our concerns,” said Anthony Riordan, chief operating officer of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Peoria. Still, he added, “it’s unfortunate we’re at this point.”

“It doesn’t make any sense that a compromise can’t be found here,” continued Riordan. “Kids are getting hurt, and that’s the bottom line.”

Meanwhile, Catholic Charities foster parents and caseworkers are “naturally very, very concerned” as the next court date approaches. Riordan said the agency remains hopeful that a legislative solution can be found before the hearing, hence the appeal for advocacy letters.

Tricia Fox, chief executive officer of Catholic Charities, said the 225 affected caseworkers in the diocese continue to do their jobs well. “they work in a very supportive culture and they stick together and that helps,” she said.

CATHOLIC VALUES GUIDE MISSION
Following the July 12 ruling, Bishop Jenky said he was encouraged by the judge’s recognition “of the grave harm that would result if Catholic Charities was forced out of its longstanding mission of serving children in foster care and adoption.”

“We continue to believe we can adhere to our religious principles and operate within the law,” he said.

Fox said the mission and values of Catholic Charities guides its work in foster care and adoption.

“Everything we do is a witness of God’s love,” said Fox. “We treat everyone with dignity. People choose to work here because of that. We’ve been doing this for a long time and definitely have reached a place where our staff and our families know our philosophies.”

“There is an expectation in our work culture that this is a personal, faith-based mission for staff and foster parents, rather than just a job,” added Riordan.

Meanwhile, Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield said he, too, is grateful “for the sake of the children in our Catholic Charities foster care proram” that the services will be allowed to continue for now.

“If these services of religious organizations like Catholic Charities are terminated, it would be the children who would suffer because some politicians have put their political agenda ahead of the best interest of the children,” said Bishop Paprocki.