"In the name of tolerance, we're not being tolerated" - so we need to tolerate their intolerance? If we really need to do that then we need to do that for everyone, and that is not the case. Sorry, but if you want to accept government money then you need to provide services for all, or become private. Sad to see them close for this, sure religious beliefs are nice but what about doing what's best for the kids and provide them a loving home. Being anti-gay is not an acceptable excuse considering that the Church kept priest abuse secret for centuries.

there is nothing stopping Catholic Charities from providing adoption services on a private basis without the use of tax dollars. The requirement that if they want to receive tax dollars then they have to serve everyone is not just a reasonable expectation but consistent with the constitution. The Catholic Church wants to impose its interpretation of Biblical standards on everyone, whether they agree or not, yet they cry intolerance and an attack on religious freedom, when they want to participate in civil activities but only on their terms, not the terms that everyone else has to abide by. Sorry, but the RC bishops get no support from this individual.

The solution is quite simple. The Catholic church needs to allow priests to marry- each other! Then these happy and gay couples, and their lesbian nun counterparts should be allowed to adopt children of their own. Since homosexuality is a condition one may or may not be born with, by not producing offspring, this may lesson the chances of creating yet more homosexuals. The altar boys will still have to fend for themselves.

Enough of this "religious persecution" red herring! Catholic Charities has the right/religious freedom to do whatever it wants as long as it is using its own funds. Once Catholic Charities accepts government dollars to act as an agent of the state in the performance of a specific function (in this case processing adoptions), it must abide by the law of the land (in this case treat applicants fairly and equally). I am so tired of perpetrators trying to portray themselves as victims.

People need to realize that the first amendment allows the Church to practice their beliefs whether or not an individual agrees with them or not.

Ah, "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness". Until YOUR pursuit of happiness interferes with MINE. This issue is a variant of that. But with the closing of the Illinois CC adoption division, it would appear that an opportunity springs up for other agencies, a niche for them to fill. It doesn't sound like interested adoptive parents will be left out in the cold. >>>>>>>>> But, hey, did you ever think that here in the early part of the 21st century, we would see endless squabbles about religion, all over the globe? What a world!

It seems a shame that the Catholic Church is put in this position at all. Those who could not adopt through the church could find plenty of other ways to adopt, but it seems to me that they are just bent on going after this church. It's a shame our political leaders give them the power to do that. I agree with the comment from the Bishop.

The First Amendment give us all the right to believe and express whatever we want; however, it does not give any of us the right to commit illegal acts because of our beliefs. Actions that discriminate against members of any group are simply wrong, and those who do it anyway are not entitled to taxpayer support for doing wrong.

To bsnsoxfan: Not exactly. Harmful ACTIONS are not protected under the First Amendment.

You are a very sad person.