Illinois Catholics lose fight over adoptions, foster care

(RNS) An Illinois judge has ruled that the state can terminate adoption
and foster care services with Catholic Charities, saying the church-run
agency has no "recognized legal right" to a state contract.

Circuit Judge John Schmidt ruled Thursday (Aug. 18) that state
officials can cancel contracts with Catholic Charities after church
officials said they could not comply with a new civil unions law that
could require them to place children with same-sex couples.

"No citizen has a recognized legal right to a contract with the
government," Schmidt ruled, lifting a July 12 temporary injunction that
maintained the annual contracts dating back 30 years.