Is Adoption in Virginia now banned to anyone that ISN'T religious?

Question

The Virginia Senate voted 22-18 on Thursday to approve a bill that would allow private adoption and foster care agencies to deny placement of children based on religious or moral beliefs, including disapproval of homosexuality.

http://www.washingtonblade.com/2012/02/10/virginia-senate-passes-anti-gay-adoption-bill/

As im reading this - it basically says to me that anyone seeking to adopt or foster a child must pass a "moral code" (that can be written by the agencies themselves) and which appears to be directly associated to conservatives and Christianity - and not be liable claims of prejudiced, racial, or homophobic thinking - while STILL getting state funding. 

Would this make atheist families completely ineligible now?

I wonder if the Senators understand that the vast majority of abuse cases come from of highly-religious families? Is foster care in VA about protecting kids - or promoting a religious agenda?

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Obviously, they're promoting a religious agenda, and it's disgusting.  I'd consider atheism a plus for a prospective parent, not a negative.

? · Answer

No, it doesn't say that. What is says is that the 80 private adoption agencies or foster care agencies CAN IF THEY WANT TO adopt a "conscience clause" that allows the agency to deny GLBT people the right to adopt. It does not say that they have to nor does it change the state's existing law that allows gay people to adopt or do foster care.

Secondly, it does not say anything  about non-religious or atheists not being allowed to adopt. The issue is homosexuality not atheism. 

Private adoption agencies have always been able to set their own criteria. There is nothing new about this.

There have been other states that have prohibited homosexuals from adopting and these laws have all been subsequently struck down in their respective state's Supreme Courts. And with more and more states voting for marriage equality (aka gay marriage), laws banning homosexual individuals from adopting will not have any legal standing.

Unfortunately,with this being an election year, this is nothing more than pandering to voters. The governor and senators know this is something they can use to up their "conservative cred" for the election but won't hold any water. It won't go into effect because of lawsuits challenging it and after elections, it will be overturned or if Democrats take the majority, it will be repealed.

Sam · Answer

That doesn't mean that there wouldn't be specific agencies for homosexuals or atheists. It just means (for example) that a catholic agency can choose to work with only Catholics.

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Is Adoption in Virginia now banned to anyone that ISN'T religious?

3 Answers