A bill to protect a private adoption agency's right to refuse placement based on religious beliefs has advanced to its final reading in the House of Delegates today, where it is all but certain to pass.
Democrats claim House Bill 189, sponsored by Del. C. Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah, allows adoption agencies to discriminate against same-sex couples. Republicans say it is designed to protect the religious rights of private agencies.
The bill passed on a voice vote Thursday after four sets of amendments offered by Democrats to narrow the bill's scope were rejected.
"I feel that this risks the health and safety of our children," said Del. David L. Englin, D-Alexandria.
Gilbert said the bill is designed to ensure that the "deeply held convictions of those birth parents, of those adoptive parents and of the agencies themselves will be respected and protected and not discriminated against going forward."
He noted that faith-based agencies account for the majority of adoptions in the state and said that adoptions could decrease if their right to choose families based on convictions was taken away.
"These agencies should be allowed to place consistent with the religious and the political views of their organizations, and this will keep Catholic charities open," added Del. Robert G. Marshall, R-Prince William.
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