SAN FRANCISCO FAMILY LAW BLOG » adoption

San Francisco Squaring Off Against Catholic Church

admin — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 20:55:40 +0000

After the Cardinal William Levada instructed the Archdiocese and Catholic Charities of San Francisco to refuse to place adopted children in the homes of same-sex couples, the city of San Francisco responded with a scathing resolution against the church for these discriminatory practices. The resolution refereed to the Vatican as a foreign country that was attempting to meddle in the affairs of San Francisco and said the Catholic Church’s beliefs on homosexuality are “insulting to all San Francisians,” “hateful,” “defamatory,” “unacceptable” and “insensitive and ignorant.” The resolutions also urged Archbishop George Neiderauer and the Catholic Charities of San Francisco to defy the Vatican’s orders when it came to same-sex couples.

Now the Catholic Church has brought the issue before a federal appeals court, claiming the city unconstitutionally attacked the church by enacting the resolution. The church’s attorney claims the Constitution forbids official hostility to a religion or its doctrines, just as it forbids official endorsement of any religion. The church aims to have the resolution repealed.

The city’s attorney said the supervisors have the responsibility to support equal rights for all citizens, regardless of orientation, and thus, were entitled to criticize any group that was opposed to this goal.

While appeals Judge kozinski seemed inclined to take the city’s side on the case, the decision will not be announced until later.

Most attorneys support the constitution’s freedom of religion, but San Francisco family lawyers still seem to largely support the city’s decision in supporting adoption by same-sex parents.

To read more on the case, see the article in the SF Gate. Image Via Dimitry B [Flickr]

Celebrating National Adoption Month

admin — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:50:58 +0000

November is National Adoption Month and prospective adoptive parents are urged to get in touch with a skilled San Francisco family attorney to discuss the adoption process. While the ordeal may seem complex, it is entirely rewarding in the end and there is no time to start working on the process than the present.

There are over 130,000 children in America in desperate need of a permanent loving home. Why not let your home be the one they have been waiting for all this time? The theme of this year’s adoption month is “You Don’t Have To Be Perfect to Be A Parent,” so even if you worry you’re not quite in the ideal position to have a child, consider your readiness at this stage anyway.

To learn more about National Adoption Month, review the website. Image Via Dino Olivieri [Flickr]

Bill Supports Rights of Potential Gay Parents

admin — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:26:45 +0000

A proposed federal bill could restrict federal funding from states that ban gay or lesbian couples from adopting or fostering children. The proposed bill is known as the ’Every Child Deserves a Family Act,’ and it was introduced into congress on October 15, by Democratic representative Pete Stark of California (shown at left). The bill would penalize states that still maintain outdated adoption policies restricting adoption and foster care based on marital status, gender identity or sexual orientation.

We got 25,000 kids a year maturing out of the welfare system without permanent foster care or adoptive care, and the prospects of those children having a successful adult life are diminished greatly,” Stark told the Washington Blade. “These are kids who end up in the criminal justice system, or end up homeless.”

States that would be directly impacted based on their current laws would include Utah, Florida, Arkansas, Nebraska, and Mississippi. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is an early supporter of the bill, stating children “should have the security of two fully sanctioned and legally recognized parents, whether those parents are of the same or opposite sex.”

A hearing on the bill may take place in the House Ways and Means Committee this year. San Francisco family attorneys are hopeful the bill will pass in order to promote more equality amongst GBLT families.

To learn more about the proposed legislation, read the article on Bay Windows.