Hearing on hold in dispute over Catholic adoptions

SPRINGFIELD — Catholic Charities is delaying its plan to ask a judge to reconsider or stay his ruling that Illinois officials may cut off the nonprofit’s state contracts for adoptions and foster care placements.

A hearing had been scheduled Friday in Springfield on Catholic Charities’ quest to have a Sangamon County judge rethink or hold off enforcing his recent ruling that favored the state.

A spokesman for the law firm representing Catholic Charities says the hearing has been postponed to give the nonprofit more time to get court papers.

The state Department of Children and Family Services has ended $30 million in Catholic Charities contracts because the nonprofit 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.