State Funds To Baptist Group Homes Challenged; Proselytization Charged

In a Kentucky lawsuit challenging state funds that have gone to the Kentucky Baptist Homes for Children, plaintiffs have filed a copy of a report that charges the social service agency with religious coercion and proselytizing in their group homes. Today's Louisville Courier Journal reports that in exit interviews conducted for the state by the Children's Review Program, a comparatively small number of children claimed that they were forced to participate in Bible readings, prayers or Baptist services or that they were prevented from practicing their own faith. The agency (now known as Sunrise Children's Services), has received $61 million for housing children placed in state custody. It denies the charges, and the state agrees. In reviews, the Homes have generally scored high on maintaining children's cultural connections. The lawsuit challenging state funding, as well as charging religious discrimination, was filed in 2000 by and employee who was fired after the Homes learned that she was a lesbian.