Ill. judge rules against Catholics on foster care

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – An Illinois judge has ruled that the state can stop working with Catholic Charities on adoptions and foster care placements.

It’s something the state decided to do in July after the not-for-profit agency refused to recognize Illinois’ new civil unions law.

In his ruling, Sangamon County Circuit Judge John Schmidt did not address the issue of whether a state contractor that refuses to serve gays and lesbians is violating the state’s new civil unions law.

He said only that no one, including Catholic Charities, has a legal right to a contract with the state government.

The state Department of Children and Family Services ended $30 million in contracts with Catholic Charities in four church dioceses in July, but Schmidt had temporarily reinstated them while he considered the case.