Earlier this year, New Hope Family Services—a Christian nonprofit adoption provider, foster care placement agency, and pregnancy center based in Syracuse—received a letter from the New York State Office of Children and Family Services stating that New Hope would be required to change its adoption policies or stop providing adoptions altogether. The policy that OCFS found unacceptable was New Hope’s policy of only placing children for adoption in homes where a married mother and father are present. According to OCFS, this policy contradicts New York State regulations and is “discriminatory and impermissible.” Last week, with the help of attorneys at Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), New Hope Family Services filed a federal lawsuit challenging the LGBT adoption mandate being enforced by OCFS. Rev. Jason J. McGuire, Executive Director of New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms, made the following remarks:
“The attack on religious liberty continues. Whether in the context of wedding-related services or foster care and adoption, American Christians have been facing discrimination at the hands of government for years if they decline to take actions that violate their own beliefs about marriage. The recent action taken by Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Office of Children and Family Services against New Hope Family Services is just the latest example.”
“According to its attorneys at ADF, New Hope was founded by pastors in 1965. Since that time, New Hope has helped place more than 1,000 children in ‘forever families’ through adoption. New Hope receives no state funds for its service, and a recent visit led OCFS to commend New Hope for various aspects of its operation. But in this brave new world, none of that matters. All that matters is compliance with the LGBT agenda. This ‘comply or close’ letter from OCFS is indefensible.”
“New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms congratulates New Hope Family Services for standing up against this oppressive, discriminatory government action, and we thank Alliance Defending Freedom for taking up the cause.”