Commenter:
Christian P. Maimone, Virginia resident
conscience protections for faith based agencies.
Protect Freedom of Conscience in Virginia
As a Virginia taxpayer, and supporter of faith based service providers, I write in support of 22 VAC 40-131-170B as approved by the State Board of Social Services on April 20.
Organizations that have conscience based objections to adoption placements with certain types of prospective parents (single parents, same sex couples, unmarried couples, etc...) should be permitted to continue to operate within the bounds of those conscience provisions, and not be forced to cease assisting in the adoption process.
Currently the Board-approved 22 VAC 40-131-170B states: “The licensee shall prohibit acts of discrimination based on race, color, or national origin to: (1) Delay or deny a child’s placement; or (2) Deny an individual the opportunity to become a foster or adoptive parent.”
I support this provision. During the previous comment period, faith based organizations objected to the inclusion of other items, such as sexual orientation, family status, religion, and age. I am writing to reinforce this objection and support the provision’s current language, which is squarely in line with federal law and avoids inconsistencies with state law.
Virginia has always been a bastion of freedom of religion and conscience. It is one of the bedrock and identifying principles of our Commonwealth. Including items into the adoption regulations that would force faith-based adoption agencies to defy their conscience and creeds would be a clear violation of these freedoms. These agencies’ deeply held convictions regarding the sanctity of marriage, the family, and human sexuality must be honored. It would be unjust, unwise, and reprehensible to tell faith-based agencies that they could no longer practice the very beliefs that undergird and animate their services.
For these reasons and others, I support the State Board of Social Services’ correct April 20 vote to affirm the conscience rights of faith-based adoption agencies. We thank them for their vote in favor of real freedom in Virginia and we urge the Board to continue to affirm its decision.
