You may recall that earlier this fall the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) proposed amending foster care placement requirements that, if implemented, would either disqualify Christian parents from hosting children – or force them to violate their deeply held religious convictions.

New “Safe and Appropriate Foster Care Placement Requirements” were floated in late September. Americans were invited to submit public comments by late November. Focus on the Family strongly objects to the proposed regulations.

Changes include requiring foster parents to support any sexual confusion children in their care might be dealing with – even if a male child identifies as a female or vice versa.

Jonathan Skrmetti, Tennessee’s attorney general has threatened to sue HHS if the rule is finalized. He recently told the Daily Signal:

“This is a federal agency making law, treading on both the prerogatives of Congress and really the prerogatives of the state legislatures. Family law has always been a state issue. The states have developed a rich body of family law dealing with issues like foster care. This is a really heavy-handed intrusion by the federal government in pursuit of a political end but at the expense of kids. So constitutionally, there’s a structural problem with a federal agency making law in an area where the states should be making the law and where the states have been making the law.”

Mr. Skrmetti isn’t alone. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) has proposed legislation that would protect Christian parents and children from violating their conscience.

“Faith-based foster care organizations have provided reliable, effective resources to countless families and children with nowhere else to go,” said Senator Scott. He then expressed concern about the proposal, saying it would make it difficult for everyone involved to receive the help they would need.

“I’m fighting back to protect religious freedom and support the incredible work of these invaluable organizations,” he said.

Senator Scott is joined by sixteen other senators in proposing S.3344, which would “ensure that organizations with religious or moral convictions are allowed to continue to provide services for children.”

As we’ve previously noted, the proposed regulations may not outright ban Christians from fostering children, but the intent and message is clear: The federal government doesn’t trust Bible-believing Christians.

Enough is enough.

 

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