{"id":2268455,"date":"2024-06-15T11:07:01","date_gmt":"2024-06-15T15:07:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/couples-sue-after-being-kicked-out-of-state-foster-care-program-over-christian-beliefs\/"},"modified":"2024-06-15T11:09:45","modified_gmt":"2024-06-15T15:09:45","slug":"couples-sue-after-being-kicked-out-of-state-foster-care-program-over-christian-beliefs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/couples-sue-after-being-kicked-out-of-state-foster-care-program-over-christian-beliefs\/","title":{"rendered":"Couples File Lawsuit After Removal from State Foster Care Program Due to Christian Beliefs"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fcouples-sue-after-being-kicked-out-of-state-foster-care-program-over-christian-beliefs%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2268455&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Two Christian couples in\u200d Vermont are suing state\u2063 officials because they claim they were denied renewal of their\u2062 foster care\u200c licenses due to their religious beliefs. Brian and Kaitlyn Wuoti, and Michael and Rebecca Gantt, \u200dare represented by the Alliance Defending \u200bCenter\u200c and allege \u2063that the \u200cVermont Department of Children and\u2063 Families (DCF)\u2062 violated their First and Fourteenth Amendment rights \u2063by requiring\u2064 them to comply with DCF Policy 76, which involves supporting and affirming LGBTQ children and youth in matters such as sexual orientation and gender identity. The \u2062couples \u2064believe this policy forces them to go \u2063against their beliefs about sexual ethics\u2063 and human anatomy. Aryka Radke, a DCF official, defended \u2064the department&#8217;s stance by emphasizing the\u2064 importance of valuing and supporting all children irrespective of their\u2064 sexual \u2062orientation or \u200cgender identity. The case raises significant First Amendment concerns, mirroring aspects of the\u2062 2021 Supreme Court case\u200c Fulton v. City \u2062of Philadelphia, which dealt \u2062with similar issues\u2062 of religious freedom and discrimination. This lawsuit not \u2062only\u200c highlights \u200cthe <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/iowa-judge-temporarily-blocks-six-week-abortion-ban-days-after-gov-reynolds-signed-legislation\/\" title=\"Iowa judge halts 6-week abortion ban after governor's recent approval.\">ongoing legal\u2062 battles<\/a> over\u200b religious freedom and LGBTQ rights but also underscores the societal and legal challenges facing religious individuals in the foster care\u200b and adoption process.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<header> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/commentary\/\">  Commentary <\/a>   <span> <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/aaltomari\/\">  <\/a> <\/p>\n<p> <span>   By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/aaltomari\/%20\"><span>Anthony Altomari<\/span><\/a> <\/span> <span>   June 15, 2024 at 7:19am <\/span> <\/span>  <\/header>\n<section>\n<p>Two Christian couples are suing Vermont state officials over being booted from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/religious-freedom-advocates-celebrate-after-scotus-sides-with-catholic-group-on-gay-couple-foster-parents\/\" title=\"Religious Freedom Advocates Celebrate After SCOTUS Sides With Catholic Group On Gay Couple Foster Parents\">foster care program<\/a> over their Christian beliefs.<\/p>\n<p>The couples, Brian and Kaitlyn Wuoti and Michael and Rebecca Gantt, complained in the suit that the state violated their First and Fourteenth Amendment rights.<\/p>\n<p>According to a <a href=\"https:\/\/adfmedialegalfiles.blob.core.windows.net\/files\/WuotiComplaint.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">complaint<\/a> filed in federal court on June 4, they alleged that the Vermont Department of Children and Families refused to renew their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/christian-parents-say-vermont-blocked-them-from-foster-care-system-because-of-their-beliefs-on-gender\/\" title=\"Christian Parents Cite Vermont's Gender Beliefs Barred Foster Care Access\">foster care licenses<\/a> because they opposed the DCF\u2019s policy regarding sexual orientation and gender identity.<\/p>\n<p>The complaint is chiefly concerned with the application of DCF Policy 76 \u2013 \u201cSupporting and Affirming LGBTQ Children &#038; Youth.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPolicy 76 provides internal guidance for Department staff on placing children who express an LGBT identity, and training foster families on how to support the child\u2019s sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression,\u201d the complaint said.<\/p>\n<p>The court documents said DCF policies require foster parents to \u201csupport children in wearing hairstyles, clothing, and accessories affirming of the child\u2019s racial, cultural, tribal, religious, or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/us-doctor-indicted-exposing-secret-transgender-surgeries-childrens-hospital\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">gender identity<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The complaint alleged that the Wuotis\u2019 license was denied solely \u201cbased on their statements explaining their religious beliefs about the human body and sexual ethics.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>DCF also apparently issued a letter to the Gantts explaining that their license was denied due to their \u201cstance regarding the requirement for affirming care and the fact that they could not envision any education or intervention that may help to shift [their] perspectives.\u201d<\/p>\n<div id=\"firefly-poll-container\">\n<p>Should these families be allowed to adopt and foster?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Johannes Widmalm-Delphonse,\u00a0 an attorney with Alliance Defending Freedom, is representing the couples. He <a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianpost.com\/news\/families-sue-vermont-for-denying-foster-care-over-opposition-to-trans-ideology.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">told<\/a> the Christian Post that he believes Vermont\u2019s policy violates his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/montana-judge-blocks-ban-on-gender-transition-healthcare-to-minors-four-days-before-law-takes-effect\/\" title=\"Montana judge halts gender transition healthcare ban for minors just days before it becomes law.\">clients\u2019 constitutional rights<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Supreme Court has said for decades that states can\u2019t force citizens to say something that they don\u2019t believe as a condition of receiving a license or any kind of government benefit,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">EXCLUSIVE: Two Christian families are suing the Vermont Department for Children &#038; Families, represented by <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ADFLegal?\">@ADFLegal<\/a>, accusing the state of blocking them from fostering due to their religious views on gender.<\/p>\n<p>They speak out first to <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DailySignal?\">@DailySignal<\/a>: <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/J2o9K5tm2b\">pic.twitter.com\/J2o9K5tm2b<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Mary Margaret Olohan (@MaryMargOlohan) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MaryMargOlohan\/status\/1798022076609319203?\">June 4, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>\u201cAnd here, Vermont is telling the parents that they have to violate their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/exclusive-marine-corps-commanders-using-form-letter-to-deny-religious-exemptions\/\" title=\"Exclusive: Marine Corps Commanders Using Form Letter to Deny Religious Exemptions\">sincerely-held religious beliefs<\/a> just to serve alongside others and to help vulnerable children.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Aryka Radke, deputy commissioner of the DCF\u2019s Family Services Division and one of the named defendants in the complaint, spoke in defense of DCF\u2019s decision to deny the license renewals.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt is a human right for all to be valued and supported, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity,\u201d Radke said. \u201cThe Family Services Division is here to serve all, and upholds that expectation for both its staff, as well as the foster parents who agree to take on the care of the youth in our custody.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Radke also argued that the timing of the suit wasn\u2019t a coincidence.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt bears mentioning that this suit was filed at the start of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/major-us-police-department-rolls-pride-badges-admits-nothing-law-enforcement\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">pride month<\/a> \u2014 a time when we reflect on the achievements and continued struggles of the LGBTQI+ movement. The department stands in partnership with the community, and continually works to be a better partner, ally, and support system \u2014 rather than a barrier to the children and youth who identify as part of this community.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The couples have demonstrated profound courage in refusing to compromise their beliefs.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s disheartening that these people are apparently being singled out solely for their religious beliefs.<\/p>\n<p>The DCF\u2019s actions demonstrate how our society has an ever-growing negative perception of religion.<\/p>\n<p>Moreover, in addition to its societal impact, this case could have important implications when it comes to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/catholic-group-sues-biden-administration-blatant-violation-first-amendment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">First Amendment<\/a> jurisprudence.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s worth noting that this situation bears resemblance to Fulton v. City of Philadelphia, a case that was before the Supreme Court in 2021.<\/p>\n<p>In a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.supremecourt.gov\/opinions\/20pdf\/19-123_new_9olb.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">unanimous decision<\/a> authored by Chief Justice John Roberts, the Supreme Court ruled that Philadelphia\u2019s refusal to enter into a foster care contract with Catholic Social Services based on their beliefs on sexual orientation and gender ideology violated CSS\u2019s First Amendment rights.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/lefts-latest-sting-supreme-court-justice-alito-backfires-proves-right\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Supreme Court<\/a> held that the city failed to act in a neutral and generally applicable manner, which is the standard the government must satisfy if laws that burden religion are to survive a First Amendment challenge.<\/p>\n<p>Roberts noted that \u201ca law is not generally applicable if it invites the government to consider the particular reasons for a person\u2019s conduct by creating a mechanism for individualized exemptions.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGovernment fails to act neutrally when it proceeds in a manner intolerant of religious beliefs or restricts practices because of their religious nature,\u201d Roberts wrote.<\/p>\n<p>The Supreme Court has been trending toward expanding First Amendment protections over the past few years. Based on this trajectory, and the similarities with Fulton, the couples should have confidence in their chances at success.<\/p>\n<p>Whatever the result, this case could have a profound effect on religious freedom in America.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<div>\n<p><b><i>A Note from Our Deputy Managing Editor:<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p><i><span>\u201cWe don\u2019t even know if an election will be held in 2024.\u201d Those 12 words have been stuck in my head since I first read them. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Former Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn recently made that comment to Floyd Brown, founder of The Western Journal. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>And if the leftists and the elites get their way, that\u2019s exactly what will happen \u2014 no real election, no real choice for the Electoral College, and no real say for the American people. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>The Western Journal is fighting to keep that from happening, but we can\u2019t do it alone.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>We work tirelessly to expose the lying leftist media and the corrupt America-hating elites.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>But Big Tech\u2019s stranglehold is now so tight that <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/donate\/?hosted_button_id=BM6XAWRJ8NS7A&#038;utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>without help<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>  from you, we will not be able to continue the fight. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>The 2024 election is literally the most important election for every living American. We have to unite and fight for our country, otherwise we will lose it. And if we lose the America we love in 2024, we\u2019ll lose it for good. Can we <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/donate\/?hosted_button_id=BM6XAWRJ8NS7A&#038;utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>count on you<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>  to help? <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>With you we will be able to field journalists, do more investigative work, expose more corruption, and get desperately needed truth to millions of Americans. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>We can do this only with your help. Please don\u2019t wait one minute.<\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/donate\/?hosted_button_id=BM6XAWRJ8NS7A&#038;utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>  Donate right now<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Thank you for reading,<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Josh Manning<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Deputy Managing Editor<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>P.S. Please <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/donate\/?hosted_button_id=BM6XAWRJ8NS7A&#038;utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>stand with us<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>  today.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"author-info-45807\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/aaltomari\/\">  <\/a> <\/p>\n<div>\n<p><label for=\"summary-tab-radio-45807\">Summary<\/label><label for=\"more-info-tab-radio-45807\">More<span> Biographical Information<\/span><\/label><label for=\"posts-tab-radio-45807\">Recent<span> Posts<\/span><\/label><label for=\"contact-tab-radio-45807\" onclick=\"if( typeof grecaptcha=='undefined' ) { let cap_s=document.createElement( 'script' ); cap_s.src='https:\/\/www.google.com\/recaptcha\/api.js?render=6LeJFcsUAAAAAPsIEqvB1EebWbZfqRUe6ebMpGy7'; document.body.appendChild( cap_s ); }\">Contact<\/label><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Anthony Altomari is a commentary writer for the Western Journal. He focuses his writing on culture and politics.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>  Anthony Altomari is a commentary writer for the Western Journal. He focuses his writing on culture and politics. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Two Christian couples, the Wuotis and the Gantts, are suing Vermont officials, claiming their removal from the foster care program due to their religious beliefs infringes on their First and Fourteenth Amendment rights<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2570,"featured_media":2268456,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Vermont-foster-parents.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2268455","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Vermont-foster-parents.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2268455","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2570"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2268455"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2268455\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2268456"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2268455"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2268455"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2268455"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}