New Virginia Law Protects Beliefs of Adoption and Foster Care Agencies

Last week, Virginia governor Bob McDonnell signed into law SB 349  (full text) that protects the religious views of adoption and foster care agencies by allowing them, to the extent permitted by federal law, to refuse to be involved in any placement which "would violate the agency's written religious or moral convictions or policies."  Such refusals also cannot be the basis for state licensing refusals, denials of grants or contracts, or the basis for a damage claim. Luray Page Free Press (4/12) and The Foundry report on the bill which has been a top priority of the Virginia Catholic Conference ever since the State Board of Social Services last year proposed, but then backed away from, prohibiting agencies from considering factors such as sexual orientation, family status, age, gender, political beliefs and religion when making child placements. (See prior posting.) The new law makes Virginia the second state to adopt these kinds of protections. The other is North Dakota.