Supreme Court to hear dispute between Catholic nonprofit, same-sex foster parents

On February 24, the Supreme Court said it will hear a dispute over a Philadelphia Catholic agency that won’t place foster children with same-sex couples, a big test of religious rights under a more conservative court.

The justices will review an appeals court ruling that upheld the city’s decision to stop placing children with the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s agency because it would not permit same-sex couples to serve as foster parents.

The Third US Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia ruled the city did not target the agency, Catholic Social Services, because of its religious beliefs but acted only to enforce its own nondiscrimination policy in the face of what seemed to be a clear violation.