Catholic Social Services of So. IL may join lawsuit

Catholic Social Services of Southern Illinois will find out today if it will be allowed to join a lawsuit against the state over foster placements to gay couples.

Peter Breen is executive director and legal counsel for the Thomas More Society, a national public interest law firm based in Chicago. He is an attorney representing Catholic Social Services in its lawsuit against the state.

Breen says the diocese based in Belleville wants to join the dioceses in Springfield, Peoria and Joliet in the suit because there is a question whether the judge's order would cover Catholic Social Services.

“They wanted to make sure that we have a consistent result across the state, and so we’re glad to have them join. They’ve always been in support of a lawsuit, but had not joined officially up to this point,” Breen said.

The Department of Children and Family Services ended its foster-care and adoption services with Catholic Charities July 1st because it says the group discriminates by not allowing gay couples to take kids.

Sangamon County Judge John Schmidt has ruled that the foster-care contracts must stay in place until an August 17th hearing.

Brad Palmer, WSIU

Posted in: Brad Palmer,Catholic Social Service,gay adoption,WSIU