Supreme Court to Consider Religious Rights Case Involving Same-Sex Couples. High court to weigh Philadelphia’s decision to exclude Catholic group from foster care program

Wall Street Journal ^ | February 24, 2020 | Brent Kendall

[karpov]

WASHINGTON—The Supreme Court said it would consider the city of Philadelphia’s decision to exclude a Catholic organization from its foster-care program because the group indicated it wouldn’t work with same-sex couples as foster parents, a case with major constitutional implications for church and state.

The justices, in a brief written order, said they would consider an appeal by Catholic Social Services and others who say the city’s position violates constitutional guarantees of religious liberty.

Philadelphia says private groups that contract with the city to care for abused and neglected children must abide by the city’s antidiscrimination laws, which prohibit bias based on sexual orientation.

A lower court ruled for the city, saying its policies didn’t target the Catholic group for its religious beliefs.

The appeal asks the Supreme Court to reconsider one of its bedrock modern precedents that says constitutional protections for the free exercise of religion don’t relieve people from complying with general laws that aren’t aimed at the promotion or restriction of religion.

[EagleUSA]

“..A lower court ruled for the city, saying its policies didn’t target the Catholic group for its religious beliefs...”

Exactly. SCOTUS should put this to bed, and end it.

[MSF BU]

Good, this may reverse the decision in the Bay State where Catholic Charities may no longer do adoptions because of this same policy.

[fwdude]

I wonder where Grenell would fall on this issue?

[allendale]

Try to imagine the agony of an eight year old boy “adopted” by two homosexuals.

[Gay State Conservative]

I'll be stunned beyond words if SCOTUS rules correctly on this one.The justices read the papers too and you can bet your bottom dollar that the 4 "usual suspects" will vote incorrectly.

And then there's Roberts.

[Gay State Conservative]

Particularly around bath time and bed time.

[MortMan]

It is amazing how the “sacred cows” of the left are so badly injured by “disparate impact”, while religious beliefs are not protected unless the legislators deliberately try to abridge them.

Effect versus intent, weaponized by the left.

[allwrong57]

its policies didn’t target the Catholic group for its religious beliefs...”

All Christians churches have been targeted for years.

[Albion Wilde]

Philly ping!