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Three Catholic Charities groups in Illinois are dropping the lawsuit they filed against the state over the end of their contracts to provide adoption and foster care services.
The state had declined to renew the contracts this year because the Catholic agencies refused to place children with gay or straight couples who are in civil unions, but wanted to refer them to other agencies. The state's civil unions law went into effect in June.
Officials with the dioceses of Joliet, Springfield, and Belleville issued a statement Monday saying they are dropping the suit "with great reluctance," the Associated Press reports. The diocese of Peoria had withdrawn from the suit last month.
In August a circuit court judge ruled that the state was within its rights to end the contracts, but the dioceses appealed.
"I am encouraged to hear that Catholic Charities has realized they cannot win this lawsuit," said Anthony Martinez, executive director of the Civil Rights Agenda, an Illinois LGBT group. He said the case was "all about prioritizing religion over what is best for the children in their care," adding, "Dropping this suit is a step in the right direction for what is best for all the citizens of this great state."
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Trudy Ring
Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.
Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.