CHICAGO (AP) — A Catholic organization that licenses foster and adoptive parents has sued the state of Illinois over a new law that would require it to place children with gay or unmarried couples.
Catholic Charities claims in the lawsuit filed Tuesday that it's exempt from provisions of a state law that lets gay and straight couples form civil unions that give them many of the same rights as traditional marriage.
The organization says placing children with unmarried, cohabitating couples violates the Catholic faith, and it wants to be allowed to refer unmarried or gay couples to other agencies, as it's done for years.
Gay rights advocates say Catholic Charities should follow the law because taxpayer money pays for its adoption and foster care services.
Three Catholic dioceses have said they're suspending services.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.
