Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Department of Social Services
 
Board
State Board of Social Services
 
chapter
Minimum Standards for Licensed Private Child-Placing Agencies [22 VAC 40 ‑ 131]
Action Adopt new standards for licensed private child-placing agencies.
Stage Proposed
Comment Period Ended on 4/1/2011
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4/1/11  5:35 pm
Commenter: Deborah J. Dewart, Attorney

Foster Care & Religious Freedom
 

Your proposed anti-discrimination rules [Virginia Administration Code section 22 VAC 40-131-170] are deeply troubling--and I believe patently contrary to the religious liberty guaranteed by the First Amendment.  Rules like this exclude people of faith who believe that sexual intimacy is reserved for the marriage of one man and one woman--forcing them to get out of the foster care (or adoption) business altogether, or sacrifice their most deeply held religious convictions and act contrary to conscience.  I hope that you will reconsider. 

CommentID: 16816