The Catholic Charities of Buffalo has announced the organization will end its adoption and foster care services because Jesus.
New York state law bans discrimination against same-sex couples when it comes to adoption or foster care, but the Catholic Church’s position is that marriage is only between a man and a woman.
“We’re a Catholic organization, so we have to practice what we do consistent with the teaching of the church,” Dennis C. Walczyk, the chief executive officer of Catholic Charities, told The Buffalo News.
The issue came to a head when a same-sex couple recently filed an application to become adoptive foster parents. Rather than place a homeless child with a loving couple, Catholic Charities chose to shut down.
It’s worth noting that this is the same Catholic Church which is currently facing enormous scandal in neighboring Pennsylvania where a two year grand jury investigation revealed over 300 priests sexually abused over 1,000 children across 7 decades.
The state issued a statement underscoring its commitment to allowing ALL families to take part in foster care and adoption programs.
“In New York State, we welcome all families who are ready to provide loving and nurturing homes to foster or adoptive children,” said Children and Family Services spokeswoman Monica Mahaffey. “There is no place for providers that choose not to follow the law.”
There are currently 34 children in 24 of the the Catholic Charities certified foster homes. Those children will eventually be transferred to the auspices of another agency.
Sadly, those couples in the middle of the adoption process will be forced to begin again with a new agency.
In this day and age, its utterly ridiculous that an organization that alleges to care for children can’t somehow find a middle ground on this issue.
The editorial board of The Buffalo News agrees, writing:
It is a shame that the church cannot find a way to bridge this chasm, which will eventually open in every state. Does placing a child with a same-sex couple necessarily mean that the church endorses same-sex marriage? Surely there are differences between approving of such unions and simply acknowledging the fact of them. And isn’t any child better off with a loving family that wants to provide its support?
It’s clear the Catholic Church’s answer to those questions is ‘no.’
It seems it’s better to leave children homeless than allow a same-sex couple to offer their love and shelter.
Because… that’s what Jesus would have wanted?
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