Indiana Gov. Mike Braun signed a bill on Wednesday protecting families and faith-based adoption and foster care organizations from discrimination based on their sincerely held religious beliefs.
The bill (HB 1389) stipulates that state government agencies may not discriminate against any adoptive or foster parent “who raises, or intends to raise, a child in a manner consistent with [their] sincerely held religious beliefs.”
The Indiana Senate passed the bill by an overwhelming 44-5 margin on Feb. 17; the state House passed the legislation by an 84-12 margin on Feb. 19.
“Every child deserves a loving home that can provide them stability and opportunities to grow,” Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel Greg Chafuen said in a statement after the governor signed the bill.
“The sad reality is that the government in some states has discriminated against people of faith, allowing vulnerable children to suffer,” he added.
The bill’s enactment comes as thousands of families have had their right to religious freedom eroded. Multiple states have adopted policies requiring foster and adoptive parents to affirm a child’s “sexual orientation,” “gender identity” or “gender expression” as a condition for adopting or fostering.
These policies have led to other states – including Arkansas and Kansas – to enact legal protections for faith-based foster and adoptive families; while other states – like Vermont – have reversed their discriminatory policies after being sued.
Policies that discriminate against Christian families are especially foolhardy because they eliminate potential families who are most likely to want to foster or adopt.
As the Daily Citizen has previously reported, Christians are far more likely to foster or adopt than the rest of the population; 65% of foster parents attend church weekly compared with 40% of Americans generally.
Chafuen added,
Last year, Gov. Braun declared November Adoption Month in Indiana, thanking the Hoosiers who opened their hearts and homes to adopt over 1,200 children last year alone.
We applaud Gov. Braun and the Indiana state legislators who recognize the importance of Christians being involved in the foster care and adoption system and chose to protect their First Amendment right to religious freedom.
To speak with a family help specialist or request resources, please call us at 1-800-A-FAMILY (232-6459).
Through Wait No More’s Suitcase Bundle ministry, children in foster care are provided their own suitcase — for their belongings — as well as a teddy bear, handwritten letter and age-appropriate Bible. The suitcase bundle is a simple way to offer dignity, comfort and hope to children in scary, lonely situations.
Related articles and resources:
Transforming Lives Through Foster Care
What You Can Do to Help Kids in Foster Care
Changing the World Through Adoption
When Government is Hostile to Christian Foster Parents
Vermont Win for Children, Foster Families and Religious Freedom
Photo from Getty Images.
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