DCFS Has Policy Change Regarding Catholic Charities

By WEEK Producer

July 18, 2011 Updated Jul 18, 2011 at 10:36 PM CDT

A policy reversal tonight by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.

DCFS will keep referring foster children to Catholic Charities.

A legal fight was set in motion after DCFS said it wanted to cancel all contracts with the charity because it refused to place children with unmarried couples, including civil unions.

A Sangamon County judge last week temporarily stopped the state from doing that.

But DCFS was intending to not refer new cases, until Monday's reversal.

Now the agency says it's business as usual until there's a ruling in Catholic Charities lawsuit against the state.

In a statement, Bishop Daniel Jenky of the Peoria Catholic Diocese applauded the judge's decision and said the diocese remained hopeful that there could be a resolution that would serve families and children while "recognizing and protecting our religious freedom."

Catholic Charities in the Peoria, Springfield and Joliet diocese have sued saying they should not have to make placements in violation of their religious beliefs.

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