State Senator Kyle McCarter (R-Lebanon), whose district office is in Highland, introduced Senate Bill 2495 on Oct. 12. The bill would amend the Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act, to allow religious-based child welfare agencies and those operated or owned by religious groups to decline an adoption or foster family home application, including any related licensure and placement, from a party to a civil union, if acceptance of that application would constitute a violation of the organization's sincerely held religious beliefs.

The agency would direct the applicant to the Department of Children and Family Services, for referral to other foster care and adoption agencies.

"The people of Illinois do not want to see Catholic Charities and other religious-based foster care agencies driven out of business, period," said Attorney Peter C. Breen of the Thomas More Society, who represents Catholic Charities on this matter. "Lawmakers intended when they passed the civil union law to protect religious groups from compromising their beliefs regarding civil unions."

Steve Roach, executive director of Catholic Charities in the Springfield diocese, said he and his employees are pleased with the introduction of Senate Bill 2495.

"We believe there is significant bi-partisan sentiment that is growing quickly in the General Assembly to correct the injustice that has been caused by ignoring the religious freedom protection that was written into the Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act."