CHICAGO, July 11, 2011 /
Christian Newswire/ -- Using the Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act as justification, the state's Department of Children and Family Services has given notice that it will remove 2,500 foster children under the care of Illinois' Catholic Charities and end the over 30-year foster care partnership between the Charities and the state. A copy of one of the notification letters is
available here.
In response, the Charities have filed for an emergency restraining order in Sangamon County Circuit Court, as part of their suit to obtain a declaration that Illinois law protects their religious beliefs on not recruiting civil union and other unmarried couples as foster parents.
A hearing on the restraining order is scheduled for Tuesday, July 12 at 2:30 pm Central Time, before Judge John Schmidt. A copy of the emergency injunction and temporary restraining order is
available here.
Attorneys for Catholic Charities are available for comment today and after tomorrow's hearing. Contact Tom Ciesielka 312-422-1333,
tc@tcpr.net to set up an interview.
