I Prayed have prayed
Father, we ask You to protect organizations' right to do business according to their conscience and the freedoms allowed in our Constitution. We also pray for children needing adoption, that they would go to loving families who will raise them in Your ways.
Reading Time: 2 minutes

New Hope Family Services in New York is a faith-based adoption provider that places babies with married couples: one man and one woman. But a government agency says they’re discriminating against homosexuals. New Hope believes placing children with married couples is in the best interests of the child and in accordance with its Christian faith and mission.

The New York Division of Human Rights has threatened New Hope, even though two federal courts found the state’s efforts to force New Hope to comply with the agency’s idea of non-discrimination likely violated the provider’s First Amendment rights. The New York legislature never passed a law that forces faith-based adoption providers to change their adoption policies.

In the complaint (PDF), New Hope says it doesn’t reject unmarried or homosexual couples; rather, it “politely and respectfully informs them that because of its beliefs as a Christian ministry, New Hope cannot be the agency to serve them” and provides referrals.

New Hope cited the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Fulton v. City of Philadelphia (2021). The city ended a contract with Catholic Social Services because it refused to place children with homosexual couples. The court held that the city’s non-discrimination requirement imposed a burden on CSS’s free exercise of religion and doesn’t qualify as a generally applicable provision.

“Government fails to act neutrally when it proceeds in a manner intolerant of religious beliefs or restricts practices because of their religious nature,” Chief Justice John Roberts wrote. “CSS seeks only an accommodation that will allow it to continue serving the children of Philadelphia in a manner consistent with its religious beliefs; it does not seek to impose those beliefs on anyone else.”

New Hope accuses the New York Division of Human Rights of launching a “discriminatory and harassing investigation based on a bad-faith complaint” and asks the court for a preliminary and permanent injunction and to find that the agency’s actions violate the provider’s First Amendment rights.

Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) represents New Hope. From the site:

In order to scrupulously ensure its autonomy to operate in accordance with its religious beliefs, New Hope accepts no government funding. Its operations are entirely funded by private contributions and by fees paid by couples with which New Hope works to perform home studies and complete adoptions.

“What is happening to New Hope Family Services is part of a disturbing trend from Alaska and Washington to Colorado and New York: Activists are weaponizing the legal system to ruin those who simply disagree with them,” ADF Senior Counsel Roger Brooks said. “We have filed this lawsuit to put a stop to state officials’ illegal and indefensible harassment of New Hope, which only wishes to continue serving New York families as it has for more than 50 years.”

What do you think about the way that activists are weaponizing the legal system? Share your thoughts and prayers in the comments below!

(Reprinted with permission from Black Community News. Article written by a BCN senior editor. You can find the article on their site, here. Photo Credit: Nathan Dumlao/Unsplash).

Comments (2) Print

Comments

Leave A Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Barbara Kuhls
September 27, 2021

Praise God for New Hope Family Services! Praise God for all the forever families they have facilitated according to their Christian faith. Praise God for their leaders having the backbone and the will to fight oppressive government harassment that is unconstitutional. Bless them with unlimited $$ resources for this legal battle that they should not have to be fighting. Bless them by restoring the time and energy they have to spend on this- return it seven fold.
May they be an example and a light to other Christian adoption agencies and foster care services. May Bethany Christian Services and others who capitulated to unconditional government mandates repent and beg for mercy from Almighty God.
In the mighty and powerful name of Jesus we pray,
Amen

10
DebraDee
September 27, 2021

Heavenly Father,
We pray and declare this lawsuit will indeed put a stop to state officials’ illegal and indefensible harassment of New Hope. Thank You in advance for defending this organization. God bless them for the work they do in helping children find good homes. Thank you for Alliance Defending Freedom that has taken on this case. We pray for victory.
In Jesus name

21

Partner with Us

Intercessors for America is the trusted resource for millions of people across the United States committed to praying for our nation. If you have benefited from IFA's resources and community, please consider joining us as a monthly support partner. As a 501(c)3 organization, it's through your support that all this possible.

Dave Kubal
IFA President
Become a Monthly Partner

Share

Click below to share this with others

Log in to Join the Conversation

Log in to your IFA account to start a discussion, comment, pray, and interact with our community.