CHICAGO—(ENEWSPF)–August 18, 2011 â Yesterday, Sangamon County Circuit Court Judge John Schmidt heard arguments in a lawsuit against the State of Illinois filed by several Catholic Charities agencies. The lawsuit sought to reverse a decision by the Department of Children and Family Services to end its contractual relationship with these agencies to provide state-funded foster care and adoption services. The Catholic Charities agencies have refused to provide such services to lesbian and gay male couples, including couples who have a civil union under Illinoisâ new laws. In late July, Judge Schmidt approved a request by the ACLU of Illinois to join the lawsuit on behalf of the children in the custody of DCFS and a lesbian couple from Champaign who are interested in adopting in the future.
