Adoption

The Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Unions Act grants the rights of traditionally married couples to civil union couples, including the right to adopt. This caused quite a bit of controversy when Catholic Charities refused to offer civil union adoption services to same-sex couples. Although Catholic Charities, which was publicly funded though a private religious organization, has since withdrawn from the legal battle to continue receiving state funds while reserving the right to refuse adoption services, it is not the end of the battle between religion, same-sex civil unions, and state law.

According to ChicagoPhoenix.com, a bill that would have amended the Civil Union Act to allow religion-based child welfare organizations to refuse adoption services to civil union couples was killed in Springfield by civil rights activist groups such as the Illinois ACLU and LGBT groups such as The Civil Rights Agenda (TCRA). The bill, which was introduced in October, would have ultimately allowed religious adoption institutions to discriminate against lesbian and gay civil union couples. This bill is only one of several similar bills introduced since last year.

TCRA filed testimony before the Executive Subcommittee on Civil Rights vote stating that Catholic Charities has every right to discriminate against potential adoptive and foster care parents on the basis that their religious beliefs prevent them from placing children in same-sex civil union households. However, “as an agent of the State of Illinois, using public funds, it is against the law to discriminate based on sexual orientation.”

The executive director of TCRA, who is Catholic, is saddened and dismayed that Catholic Charities would refuse foster care and adoption services due to discrimination. Furthermore, the policy advisor for TCRA sees this bill, and similar bills, solely as an attempt to allow the Catholic Conference to continue its “agenda of bigotry and hate.” In the end, however, if a religiously-based adoption service wants to discriminate, they will have to sever ties with the state.

The Illinois civil union law is an important step forward in the fight for equal rights but, for some, acceptance unfortunately takes a while longer. As the attempts to subvert the Civil Union Act continue, it is imperative that the message of equality grows even stronger. If you have questions about the Illinois Civil Union Act or are considering entering into a civil union, the dedicated civil union lawyers in Chicago at Nottage and Ward can help. Call us today for a consultation at (312) 332-2915.

A former Ottawa resident who was adopted through a closed adoption is in search of her biological parents to learn about her medical history, ethnicity, and find out more about the possibility of meeting her biological family. According to a News Tribune article, the woman was born in June of 1986 and is a mother of two. When she was pregnant, doctors and nurses wanted to know her medical history, but she wasn’t able to provide them with this information.

The report states that the woman has submitted her information to several adoption websites, has registered with the Illinois Department of Public Health, and has been added to the Illinois Adoption Registry and Medical Information Exchange. Because she had been adopted through a closed adoption, she could only be told the ages of her birth parents as well as the time, date, and place of her birth.

The attorney for the woman’s adoptive parents helped them arrange the closed adoption since they were unable to conceive a child and were considered as “too old” to adopt through an agency. Opening adoption papers that are sealed by the court is not a simple task. In Illinois, there typically must be a leave of court given in addition to justification such as a medical reason in order for closed adoption information to be released.

Adoption can be a tremendous opportunity for step-parents, same-sex couples, and many other couples who are unable to or chose not to have children. However, adoption is not to be taken lightly and can be a complex process.

At the family law firm of Nottage and Ward, our Illinois adoption lawyers handle a wide range of adoption cases. With our thorough understanding of adoption law in Illinois, we can help guide you through the intricate family law matter at hand. Contact our firm for more information and to find out if our experience meets your needs. Call 312-332-2915.