Judge rules against Catholic Charities on foster care

SPRINGFIELD — A central Illinois judge has ruled that Catholic Charities does not have a right to state contracts for adoptions and foster care placements and Illinois officials may cut them off.

The state Department of Children and Family Services ended $30 million in contracts with Catholic Charities in July because the not-for-profit won’t work with unmarried couples in placing children in adoptive and foster homes. Illinois authorities say that violates the state’s civil union law.

Catholic Charities sued. But Sangamon County Circuit Judge John Schmidt ruled Thursday that the not-for-profit is not entitled to the contracts because it doesn’t have to accept them.

Schmidt did not address the question of whether the charity discriminates against gays and lesbians and other people in civil unions.