LANSING, MI (MPRN)-- The ACLU says a state policy regarding state contracts with faith-based adoption agencies is unconstitutional.
A judge will decide whether a lawsuit filed by the ACLU against the state will go forward.
The state allows organizations that provide child placement services to deny same-sex couples who want to adopt on religious grounds. Those are agencies that receive money from the state.
The ACLU is fighting the policy on behalf of same sex couples who were turned away from places like St. Vincent Catholic Charities, which is also a defendant in the lawsuit.
Stephanie Barclay is with the law firm that represents St. Vincent. She says the organization would stop facilitating adoptions if faced with the choice of accepting same-sex couples or losing state money.
“Closing down St. Vincent does nothing to allow more same sex couples to adopt,” she says.
The ACLU says the state cannot give money to an agency that uses it to discriminate against same sex couples.