Widow Barred From Adopting Foster Kids Over Christian Beliefs. Now She’s Fighting Back.

Meet Jessica Bates, a devoted Christian who felt called to adopt children in need from the foster care system. But when she discovered that the state of Oregon required her to “respect, accept, and support” the sexual orientation or gender identity of any child placed in her home, she knew she couldn’t comply with her religious beliefs. Her application was put on hold and then denied. Now, with the help of Christian legal advocacy group Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), Bates is fighting back. She’s filed a federal lawsuit against Oregon, hoping to eliminate the discriminatory policy that excludes people of faith from the adoption process.

According to ADF Legal Counsel Johannes Widmalm-Delphonse, the policy violates Bates’ freedom of speech and free exercise of religion. It forces her to choose between abandoning her beliefs or giving up the chance to adopt a child. And Bates isn’t alone in her rejection based on her Christian faith. ADF says others in Oregon have reached out to them with similar stories, and it’s happened in other states too.

But excluding Christians and entire faith groups from the adoption process hurts the children in need the most. “I believe there’s a statistic that practicing U.S. Christians are twice as likely to adopt as the general U.S. population,” Widmalm-Delphonse noted. “In other words, these systems can’t function without Christians – much less devout Jews and Muslims, and people of other faiths who share Jessica’s values.”

The fight against radical gender ideology isn’t just about foster and adoptive parents. It’s about protecting the rights of natural families who want to raise their children consistent with their faith. ADF is concerned that states might try to use gender ideology to punish parents just because of their beliefs. That’s why they’re fighting for the rights of caregivers and natural parents everywhere.

On Tuesday, ADF filed a Motion for Preliminary Injunction on behalf of Bates, asking the court to allow her to continue in the adoption process while the lawsuit takes place. Let’s hope justice prevails and Bates and others like her can provide loving homes for children in need.