Rochester, NY—Earlier today, the Supreme Court of the United States issued its decision in Fulton v. Philadelphia. The Court ruled unanimously against the City of Philadelphia, which had refused to refer foster children to Catholic Social Services due to the agency’s unwillingness to place children in same-sex households. Jason J. McGuire, Executive Director of New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms (NYCF), made the following remarks:
“Following the Court’s decision in Fulton, every eye should be on New York State’s persecution of New Hope Family Services. New Hope—an evangelical Christian adoption agency based in Syracuse—is in the midst of a court battle to stay in business. The State of New York is trying to shut New Hope down because it will not place children in same-sex households. While the Fulton decision is a narrow ruling based on language in the City of Philadelphia’s foster services contract, it reminds Americans that religious liberty should not be a partisan, special-interest issue. Considering today’s ruling, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and the State of New York should immediately cease their efforts to compel New Hope Family Services to violate its Christian beliefs about marriage and family. While New Yorkers may disagree about many things, we should be able to agree that the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment means something. New York needs to stop hindering, and start helping, agencies that find homes for vulnerable kids in need.”