On April 20, the State Board of Social Services correctly upheld the constitutional right of faith-based child placement agencies to continue their very important work of placing children with parents without governmental instrusion into the practice of their faith. 

Virginia law already allows gay adoption, and the issue of whether gays can or cannot adopt is not in question. Instead, the issue of whether faith-based agencies can make decisions that are consistent with their own religous beliefs is in question.

Forcing agencies or individuals to choose between following their own values or following the proposed, discriminatory regulation would be a blatant violation of religious freedom in Virginia. 

Faith-based adoption agencies provide a vital service to our communities, and they must be allowed to continue their work.