{"id":33925,"date":"2025-04-15T17:40:09","date_gmt":"2025-04-15T17:40:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cincinnatirighttolife.org\/?p=33925"},"modified":"2025-04-18T19:11:57","modified_gmt":"2025-04-18T19:11:57","slug":"arkansas-to-allow-christian-adoption-and-foster-care-groups-to-bypass-same-sex-homes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cincinnatirighttolife.org\/arkansas-to-allow-christian-adoption-and-foster-care-groups-to-bypass-same-sex-homes\/","title":{"rendered":"Arkansas to Allow Christian Adoption and Foster Care Groups to Bypass Same-Sex Homes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By: Michael Gryboski, originally published April 14, The Washington Stand<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

An Arkansas bill prohibiting state officials from forcing faith-based adoption and foster care organizations from placing children in homes that go against an agency’s religious or moral beliefs was signed into law by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sanders, former White House press secretary for Donald Trump, signed Act 509 last Thursday along with several other bills on various topics. The measure overwhelmingly passed both chambers of the legislature earlier this month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also known as House Bill 1669<\/a> or the Keep Kids First Act, the new law prohibits the state government from requiring faith-based organizations to \u201cperform, assist, counsel, recommend, consent to, refer, or participate in any placement of a child for foster care or adoption when the proposed placement would violate the private child placement agency’s sincerely held religious or moral beliefs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The law also stops the government from taking action against an adoptive or foster parent on the basis of their religious beliefs or \u201c[r]efusal to accept or support any government policy regarding sexual orientation or gender identity that conflicts with\u201d their \u201csincerely held religious beliefs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe state government shall not establish or enforce any per se standard, rule, or policy that precludes consideration of a current or prospective foster or pre-adoptive parent for any particular placement based in whole or in part on the person’s sincerely held religious beliefs regarding sexual orientation or gender identity,\u201d HB 1669 continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Supporters of the law include the Alliance Defending Freedom, a nonprofit religious liberty law firm that has successfully argued cases before the U.S. Supreme Court.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

\u201cEvery child deserves a loving home that can provide them stability and opportunities to grow. Yet other states have put politics over people by excluding caring families and faith-based adoption and foster care organizations from helping children find loving homes,\u201d said ADF Senior Counsel Greg Chafuen in a statement<\/a> last Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThankfully, Arkansas has taken the critical step to pass HB 1669, the Keep Kids First Act, which prioritizes the well-being of kids by prohibiting state and local government officials from discriminating against adoption and foster care providers and parents simply because of their religious beliefs and moral convictions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Critics of the legislation included the Arkansas chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, a prominent progressive law firm that has frequently advanced LGBT advocacy issues in the courts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis harmful legislation would codify the exclusion many LGBTQ individuals and couples already face when trying to foster or adopt,\u201d the ACLU of Arkansas said in a statement<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cInstead of enshrining discrimination into law, our state should be working to ensure that every child in Arkansas has the opportunity to grow up in a safe, loving home. HB 1669 prioritizes prejudice over the best interests of children and undermines efforts to provide stable, affirming families for those in need.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In recent years, there has been considerable debate and litigation over whether Christian charities that work with government agencies should be required to adhere to antidiscrimination laws regarding gender identity and sexual orientation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2021, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled<\/a> in Fulton v. City of Philadelphiathat officials in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, could not exclude Catholic Social Services (CSS) from its foster program solely because the organization refused to place children with same-sex couples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGovernment fails to act neutrally when it proceeds in a manner intolerant of religious beliefs or restricts practices because of their religious nature,\u201d wrote Chief Justice John Roberts for the court opinion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe refusal of Philadelphia to contract with CSS for the provision of foster care services unless it agrees to certify same-sex couples as foster parents cannot survive strict scrutiny, and violates the First Amendment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Michael Gryboski serves as editor at The Christian Post.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By: Michael Gryboski, originally published April 14, The Washington Stand An Arkansas bill prohibiting state officials from forcing faith-based adoption and foster care organizations from placing children in homes that go against an agency’s religious or moral beliefs was signed into law by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R). 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