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Category Archives: Illinois

Baptist Press: Religious Liberty Takes Hit in New Gay Marriage Lawsuits

January 24, 2012 – 10:00 am

A series of lawsuits and a new court ruling are fresh examples of how laws granting marriage benefits to gay couples can end up squashing religious liberty, says a Christian attorney involved in one of the cases.

All four cases involve states with gay "marriage" or same-sex civil unions laws: Illinois, Vermont, Hawaii and New Jersey. In Vermont and Illinois, bed and breakfast owners were sued for declining to host a same-sex ceremony or reception, and in Hawaii, a bed and breakfast owner was sued after turning away a lesbian couple who wanted to make a reservation.

In New Jersey, a state judge ruled Jan. 12 that a Christian beachfront property operated by United Methodists violated state non-discrimination laws when it refused to host a lesbian couple's civil union ceremony.

Jim Campbell, an attorney with the Alliance Defense Fund -- which is representing the Methodist group -- said the cases prove that there is harm to religious liberty when states legalize gay "marriage" or civil unions or pass broad legislation incorporating sexual orientation into non-discrimination laws.

"When people hear that their legislature is considering a law like this and they think, 'What's the harm?' they need to realize that there is this direct threat to religious liberty -- to business owners, employees, religious entities and people who attend all those religious entities," Campbell told Baptist Press. "These four cases are a good demonstration of that. People who are concerned about religious liberty should be concerned about these legal developments."

By NOM Staff | Posted in Hawaii, Illinois, New Jersey, Religious Liberty, Same Sex Marriage, Vermont | Comments (5)

John Culhane Asks: "Will Opposite-Sex Civil Unions Spell the End of Traditional Marriage?"

January 13, 2012 – 11:00 am

As in Europe, civil unions are proving more and more frequently to undermine the institution and traditional role of marriage, as Slate author John Culhane (who supports SSM) argues after interviewing straight couples who opted for civil unions instead of marriage in Illinois:

...When asked during a long Skype interview why she and her partner, Justin Gates, chose to enter a civil union rather than marry, Leah Whitesel, who identifies as queer despite her current relationship, framed the question this way: “Gay marriage doesn’t seem like the right discussion to me. Because it should be: ‘What is this institution of marriage and does it still need to be defined the way it has been?’ ” For Whitesel and Gates, the answer is no.

Many of the other straight civil union pioneers have also said no to marriage—for themselves and as an institution. The evidence is in a report that the Cook County Clerk’s Office recently issued on the nation’s first opposite-sex couples who civilly united. It found dissatisfaction with the institution of marriage because of concerns with its historical assignment of roles, its connection to religion, and its unfairness to gay and lesbian couples. My own interviews with some of these same couples, who have rejected marriage and plunged into the shallower, murkier pool of the civil union, reflect a cohort prepared to take the wrecking ball to marriage itself.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Civil Unions, Illinois, Marriage, Same Sex Marriage | Comments Off

What do States Passing Same-Sex Unions Have in Common? Corrupt Legislatures & Bad Economies

December 26, 2011 – 10:00 am

A former son of Illinois (and former State Senator) says a heartfelt public goodbye to the State of Illinois over corruption, population loss (due to poor job creation), and high taxes (which he says go hand-in-hand).

Notice any other similarities between, say, New York and Illinois? Corrupt legislatures pass same-sex marriage/civil unions while claiming it is good for the economy:

Good Bye And Good Luck

As we leave Illinois for good, I wanted to say goodbye to my friends and wish all of you well. I am a lifelong son of the heartland and proud of it. After 60 years, I leave Illinois with a heavy heart. BUT enough is enough! The leaders of Illinois refuse to see we can’t continue going in the direction we are and expect people who have options to stay here. I remember when Illinois had 25 congressmen. In 2012 we will have 18. Compared to the rest of the country we have lost 1/4th of our population. Don’t blame the weather, because I love 4 seasons.

Illinois just sold still more bonds and our credit rating is so bad we pay higher interest rates than junk bonds! Junk Bonds! -- Godfather Politics

By NOM Staff | Posted in Civil Unions, Illinois | Comments (37)

ADF Comes to Defense of Illinois B&B Accused of Violating Human Rights Act

December 8, 2011 – 8:00 am

From the Alliance Defense Fund:

An Alliance Defense Fund allied attorney representing a central Illinois bed and breakfast filed answers Friday to complaints filed against it with the state’s Human Rights Commission. Two men filed the complaints after TimberCreek Bed and Breakfast told them that it does not host “civil union” ceremonies, but only weddings, on its premises.

“No business owner may be forced to violate his sincerely held religious beliefs merely because someone demands it,” said Steve Amjad, one of more than 2,100 attorneys in the ADF alliance. “Constitutional and state laws guarantee religious freedom for every American, including business owners. These complaints ignore those fundamental freedoms and are further examples of the threat the homosexual legal agenda poses to every American’s basic rights.”

By NOM Staff | Posted in Civil Unions, Illinois, Law, MarriageADA, Religious Liberty | Comments (4)

3 Illinois Catholic Dioceses Drop Lawsuit, Begin Shutting Down Adoption and Foster Care Programs

November 15, 2011 – 1:56 pm

Catholic News Agency:

Bishops in three Illinois dioceses announced Nov. 14 that they have dropped their lawsuit against the state and will shut down their adoption and foster care programs, after a civil union law required them to provide their services to same-sex couples.

“The decision not to pursue further appeals was reached with great reluctance, but was necessitated by the fact that the State of Illinois has made it financially impossible for our agencies to continue to provide these services,” said Bishop Thomas J. Paprocki of Springfield, Bishop Edward K. Braxton of Belleville, and Bishop R. Daniel Conlon of Joliet.

“Since we now need to close offices and lay off employees, further appeals would be moot,” the bishops said.

...Peter Breen, an attorney with the Thomas More Society, which represented the charities in their lawsuit against the state, called the news “tragic.”

In a Nov. 14 statement, Breen said the situation “stands as a stark lesson to the rest of the nation that legislators promising 'religious protection' in same sex marriage and civil union laws may not be able to deliver on those promises.”

Robert Gilligan, executive director of the Illinois Catholic Conference, summarized what he believes to be the underlying problem in remarks to CNA on Nov. 11.

What “you're seeing at the state level in Illinois, what you're seeing at the national level in Washington, D.C., is a consistent promulgation of policies and laws that are making it very difficult for faith-based agencies that believe that marriage is between one man and one woman,” Gilligan said.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Adoption, Catholic Church, Children, Civil Unions, Illinois, Religious Liberty | Comments (11)

Two Illinois Inns Sued For Refusing to Host Same-Sex Civil Union Ceremony

November 3, 2011 – 12:32 pm

From the Windy City Times (a gay newspaper):

A gay couple has filed complaints with the Illinois Human Rights Commission against two downstate bed-and-breakfast inns that allegedly refused to host their civil-union ceremony.
Todd and Mark Wathen of Mattoon, Ill., allege that both the Timber Creek Bed and Breakfast and Beall Mansion Bed and Breakfast discriminated against them by refusing to host their legally recognized ceremony.

The Wathen's attorneys—Betty Tsamis of Chicago, and John Knight and Harvey Grossman of the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois—announced the filing Nov. 2 in a news release.

... The complaint alleges that Jim Belote, Beall Mansion owner, told Todd Wathen in an email that his inn was only performing "traditional weddings."

"At this time, we don't do civil unions ( same sex or opposite sex ) ," Belote wrote in an email, which is attached to the complaint. "Nor do we do wedding rehearsal dinners ( same sex or opposite sex ) ."

The email goes on to say that both same-sex and opposite-sex couples are welcome to stay at the inn.

Belote was reached by phone but declined to comment on the pending litigation.

...Citing the Illinois Human Rights Act, the Wathens have asked for monetary awards and an end to the discriminatory practice.

"When a business is open to the public in Illinois, they cannot discriminate against a couple based on their sexual orientation—that is the law," said Tsamis in the news statement. "This case is important to ensure that the State's public accommodations law reflects fairness and equality and that the law is followed by all businesses."

By NOM Staff | Posted in Civil Unions, Illinois, Law, Religious Liberty | Comments (37)

Illinois Foster Parents: Discriminating Against Christian Adoption Agencies Hurts Our Kids!

November 1, 2011 – 9:00 pm

Dear Marriage Supporter,

Can you imagine forcing foster children to suffer just so you can advance your political agenda?

Of course not!

When I first learned that the gay marriage movement is right now actively working to shut down religious foster and adoption agencies my heart dropped. I could not believe it.

When Illinois passed a "civil union" law, the state began demanding that adoption agencies place children with same-sex couples.

And when groups such as Catholic Charities or the Evangelical Child and Family Agency refused due to religious objections, the state ripped up their contracts!

So I sent a crack filmmaker out to Illinois to investigate, and here is the new video that tells you the unvarnished truth: the new gay "rights" agenda includes the right to deprive children of loving, foster homes, if those homes are found by religious adoption agencies that won't do gay adoptions.

In this groundbreaking report you hear the truth the mainstream media doesn't want you to know. You will meet wonderful loving parents, like Randi Craigen, who with her husband Clive adopted Zeb and Trinity: "I felt that was a place I could serve God and help a child."

You will meet Tammy and other Christian foster and adoption parents who will tell you about the incredibly important role Christian foster care agencies like Evangelical Child and Family and Catholic Charities have in helping find Christian parents to help abused children:

"One of the main things we were looking for in an agency is someone who shared our faith-based beliefs. I don't think I could have weathered the storm of the foster care system" without Evangelical Child and Family's help says Tammy.

Now that government is refusing to work with Christian adoption agencies, Randi is really, really concerned about the impact on her own foster kids and others like them: "It's bad for children first of all because now there's an agency that is not going to be able to provide families for them, and there are already not enough families," Randi tells us. Foster father Mike adds, "if those [Christian] people don't have a logical place to go there will be less parents helping these children."

Fewer parents helping abused and orphaned kids?

You and I should be very concerned too.

I'm the father of seven children myself. As a Christian I know we have a special obligation to the orphaned and abused child.

We cannot stand by and just watch the gay so-called "rights" movement use government power to discriminate against Christian adoption agencies, not when the ones who will be hurt in the end are the neediest little ones of all.

Will you stand up with me for Randi's kids, and Tammy's kids and hundreds of thousands of other orphaned and abused children?

Please watch this short video and take action.

Marriage Supporter, this is the TRUE nature of their fight to destroy marriage . . . the part that you do not hear about in the mainstream media.

It is an all out assault on our religious liberty, with vulnerable children as its innocent victims.

The goal of the Marriage Anti-Defamation Alliance is to defend Americans' religious liberty from being trampled by the same-sex marriage bullies, and we need friends like you to stand with us in support.

So please, today: Watch this incredible video and make one generous financial contribution to help us spread our message and expose the vicious agenda behind the anti-marriage assault.

Thank you in advance,

Brian Brown

Brian S. Brown
Executive Director
NOM Education Fund

P.S. Please forward this email to three friends right now so they can see the truth and get involved. Isolated and alone, we can be intimidated. Together we are too many to be treated as second-class citizens.

Simply visit MarriageADA.org, learn about the vicious attacks on religious-based adoption agencies, and make one urgent contribution. Thank you again, and God bless you!

By Brian Brown | Posted in Children, Illinois, MarriageADA, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (4)

Can We Trust Gov. Quinn and the Illinois Department of Children & Foster Care Services to Protect Children?

October 31, 2011 – 10:00 am

Catholic Charities has a sterling record of protecting foster children in the State of Illinois. With Gov. Quinn's consent, the children they protected are now going to be transferred to new homes because the Department of Children and Foster Care Services will no longer do business with any foster care agency that does not do gay couple adoptions.

Meanwhile, for years, the Illinois DCFS did business with a man named George E. Smith (a close personal friend of the then-head of DCFS Erwen "Mac" McEwen) who apparently bilked DCFS and other state agencies of $18 million dollars.

More troublingly, Smith actually administered psychotropic drugs to children in foster care without proper medical care or consent.

When Gov. Quinn found out, he quietly pressured McEwen to resign. No public condemnation. No calls to investigate. Nothing.

The "Chicago Way" is apparently now the 'Illinois Way", where politics trumps not only good government, but basic decency.

We've mentioned this development before but see this report in Business Week:

"McEwen, who described Smith as his "personal friend and mentor," stopped cooperating with investigators in May, the report said, although state employees are required to aid such probes. He announced his resignation in August and left DCFS at the end of September.

Gov. Pat Quinn said Monday that McEwen "was given the opportunity to resign and he took that opportunity." Quinn, appearing at an unrelated news conference, did not take any other questions on the issue and did not explain why he didn't publicly disclose the reason for McEwen's departure.

Brooke Anderson, a spokeswoman for the Democrat, said the law barred Quinn from disclosing the misconduct. However, that law applies to early release of "investigatory files and reports" from the inspector general; it does not prohibit a governor from saying he believes a member of his Cabinet is mismanaging an agency.

Anderson said all contracts and grants to Smith were halted and that DCFS is taking steps to make sure nothing like this happens again. She could not describe the steps that are being taken.

McEwen and Smith did not return messages seeking their comment on the allegations."

By Maggie Gallagher | Posted in Adoption, Children, Civility, Illinois, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (5)

IL Catholic Adoption Agencies Given Just 45 Days to Transfer All Children

October 28, 2011 – 9:00 am

LifeSiteNews:

Lawyers for Catholic Charities affiliates in three dioceses in Illinois are protesting in court after the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) said it would transfer over 1,000 children from the church-run agencies by only a fraction of the original timeline.

... the accelerated transfer time frame means that all children will already be transferred from the three Catholic Charities agencies before a court ever has a chance to hear their appeal.

The accelerated time frame “inevitably will cause disruption, dislocation, and discontinuity to at least some, if not a good many, of those children,” argues the October 19 affidavit.

... The news of the expedited transfer to the state adoption agency, comes at the same time as Illinois’ executive inspector general accused DCFS director Erwin McEwen’s “personal friend and mentor,” George E. Smith, of administering psychotropic drugs to children. In addition, Smith is accused of “‘large-scale fraud’ involving millions of dollars in taxpayer money.”
Smith “forged signatures” and “used fake employees and turned in suspicious expense reports,” according to the Chicago Tribune.

Investigators have found that there was little oversight or accountability by the DCFS.

How is this process in the best interest of the children currently in Illinois Catholic foster care?

By NOM Staff | Posted in Adoption, Catholic Church, Civil Unions, Illinois, Religious Liberty | Comments (6)

Gay Activists/ACLU Applaud "Peoria Solution" Ending Catholic Foster Care

October 20, 2011 – 10:00 am

Gay activists are crowing because one Catholic diocese in Illinois has ended its legal battle to preserve the freedom to place kids with a mom and dad, choosing instead to transfer the 300+ children in their care to a new outfit that will do adoptions to same-sex couples (the three remaining Catholic dioceses continue to pursue legal recourse):

New Civil Rights Movement: "...if a diocese can make the serious and sober decision that it needs to reconfigure itself out from under Catholic orthodoxy in order to best serve children in need, then at least some well-meaning Catholics understand the competing demands of doctrine and reality..."

The ACLU: "The new organization will not be bound by the religious tenets asserted by Catholic Charities, and instead will follow the law and DCFS' mandate requiring that the state's wards have the opportunity to be cared for by all potential caring and qualified foster and adoptive parents, including gays and lesbians."

By NOM Staff | Posted in Adoption, Civil Unions, Illinois, Law, Religious Liberty | Comments (13)

Peoria Diocese Drops Adoption, Foster-Care Services to Resolve Conflict With Civil Unions Bill

October 19, 2011 – 8:00 am

Catholic Culture World News:

The Diocese of Peoria, Illinois, has dropped a legal challenge to a state law requiring equal treatment for same-sex couples in adoption and foster-care services.

The Peoria office of Catholic Charities, which faced the loss of government contracts because it would not comply with the new state law, has chosen to set up a new organization, without formal ties to the Catholic Church, to handle adoption and foster-care cases. The staff of Catholic Charities will join the new organization, which will abide by the new regulations.

“I have a responsibility to assure that Catholic Charities operates consistently with the teachings and values of the Church,” said Peoria’s Bishop Daniel Jenky in explaining the decision to drop the legal case. The newly established office will not follow the precepts of the Church, but it will not operate under the “Catholic” label.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Adoption, Illinois, Religious Liberty | Comments (2)

Illinois Senator Introduces Bill to Allow Religious-Based Foster Care to Continue

October 18, 2011 – 10:30 am

The State-Journal Register:

Catholic Charities would be able to continue its foster care and adoption services without serving same-sex couples under legislation introduced this week by state Sen. Kyle McCarter.

The bill would amend the Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act to allow religious-based child-welfare agencies and those operated or owned by a religious organization to refer such couples to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services for other adoption and foster care options.

McCarter, R-Lebanon, introduced the legislation in response to an ongoing legal battle between Catholic Charities agencies and the state after the civil union law took effect June 1.

“I do believe that if it’s sent to the floor, there’s enough votes to pass it in the House and the Senate,” McCarter said Friday. “Catholic Charities is responsible for a majority of adoptions and placements of foster kids in southern Illinois, and they do it for a fraction of the cost, and they do it with an extreme amount of compassion.”

By NOM Staff | Posted in Adoption, Catholic Church, Civil Unions, Illinois, Religious Liberty | Comments (4)

Illinois Bishops Create New Defense of Marriage Department

September 30, 2011 – 11:00 am

From the press release:

Passage and enactment of the state’s new civil unions law has prompted Illinois’ bishops to create a Defense of Marriage department within the Catholic Conference of Illinois.

CCI’s Director of Government Relations Zach Wichmann heads the new department, with each diocese appointing advocates who seek to promote the Church’s love and solicitude toward marriage, families and children, and defend against public policy encroachments.

... [Wichmann] warned that initiatives to redefine marriage in Illinois civil law are likely on the horizon. Lawmakers in New York state this summer passed and the governor signed into law a measure legalizing same-sex marriage. The governor of Maryland is expected to push a same-sex marriage proposal next year. Illinois may not be far behind, Wichmann noted.

“The outcomes of these proposals will have implications in many areas of civil and religious life,” Wichmann said. “The Catholic Church will strive to prevent negative consequences to society, public ministry and children.”

By NOM Staff | Posted in Catholic Church, Illinois, Religious Liberty, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (2)

Breaking News: Illinois Judge Rejects Catholic Charities Appeal

September 28, 2011 – 5:35 pm

The Associated Press:

A Sangamon County judge has ruled the Illinois Department of Children and Family Service can begin canceling its adoption and foster care contracts with Catholic Charities.

Judge John Schmidt on Monday denied Catholic Charities' request to stay his earlier ruling that the group has no right to state contracts to provide adoption and foster care services.

... Attorneys for Catholic Charities say they will ask the 4th District Appellate Court to stay Schmidt's ruling.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Adoption, Catholic Church, Civil Unions, Illinois, Religious Liberty | Comments (14)

Same-Sex Couple to Sue Two Christian-Run Bed & Breakfasts in Illinois

September 22, 2011 – 10:00 am

The Chicago Tribune:

The couple filed a complaint with the Illinois Department of Human Rights, which investigated and found "substantial evidence" that a civil rights violation had been committed.

The August finding allows the Wathens 90 days to file a complaint with the state Human Rights Commission or take civil action in Circuit Court. The Wathens' attorney, Betty Tsamis of Chicago, told the Tribune that her clients have chosen the latter path and will file lawsuits against both businesses as early as next week.

... Steven Amjad, an attorney representing Timber Creek, said the state constitution guarantees religious freedoms.

"These are business owners that have strong religious convictions. The Legislature has created this (conflict), and the courts will have to sort this out," he said.