Detroit, Mich., Sep 17, 2018 / 15:15 pm
A lawsuit seeking to end state support for faith-based adoption agencies in Michigan will continue, a judge ruled on Friday.
Federal Judge Paul D. Borman of the Eastern District Court of Michigan denied a motion to dismiss the case Dumont v. Lyon, which challenges state funding for religious agencies which will not work with same-sex couples.
The case was filed in September of 2017 by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of two lesbian couples who were turned away by a faith-based agency, as well as a former foster child. The ACLU argues that the state is violating the First Amendment's establishment clause by providing funding to faith-based agencies who do place children with same-sex couples.
The motion to dismiss was filed in July by the state as well as St. Vincent Catholic Charities, located in Lansing, Michigan. St. Vincent is one of the organizations named in the suit.