Virginia bill protects faith-based adoption agencies from placing children with homosexual couples
Gov. Tim Kaine (Photo credit: kevincupp ) RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, March 12, 2012, ( LifeSiteNews.com ) - A Virginia bill set to become law will protect the right of faith-based adoption agencies in the state to limit adoption placements to heterosexual couples. The bill, which cleared the Virginia Senate last Friday by a vote of 22-18, allows private adoption agencies to refuse to participate in adoptions that “violate the agency’s written religious or moral convictions or policies.” It also protects the agencies from being denied government licensure, funds, or contracts based on that refusal. An identical bill had passed the state’s House of Delegates early last month, by a vote of 71-to-28. All House Republicans and three Democrats supported the measure. Now that the bill has been approved by both chambers, it will head to desk of Republican Governor Bob McDonnell , who is expected to sign the legislation. Roman Catholic Church officials have supported the move because of previous th