I am writing to voice my opinion on the proposed changes to the Virginia licensing requirements for child-placing agencies. Virginia has a long heritage of protecting religious liberties. Many of our Viriginia-born founding fathers took careful steps to ensure that the government would allow religious freedom so that we can choose to peaceably live our lives according to the moral standards that our particular religion has taught us to uphold. These adoption agencies because of their love for the orphans, choose to work with prospective parents of like beliefs who because of their professed faith have chosen to live moral selfless lives. In addition, this likeness of faith allows for a closer relationship between the clients and the agency, which will help the agency make wise choices in matching children with their new homes. Please protect the agencies' right to choose to identify themselves religiously and to limit their clients to those of like faith. Thank you for the opportunity you are allowing for our voices to be heard in this matter.