Windham claimed the city was inventing policies specifically to target Catholic Social Services.
"The city is still trying to use city laws and policies--they can't quite tell us which policy, they keep making them up as they go along--the city is making up new policies to try and shut down Catholic Social Services and stop them from caring for foster children as they have done for a century," she said.
"The city of Philadelphia has engaged in some really disturbing targeting of Catholic beliefs," said Windham.
"The head of the city agency in charge of foster children told Catholic [Social Services] that it's not 100 years ago, and that they need to obey the teachings of Pope Francis," she said.
Pope Francis has said that same-sex marriage "threatens the family" and "disfigures God's plan for creation." The pope has also told parents to love their gay children.
Additionally, Philadelphia's city council "passed a resolution calling this 'discrimination under the guise of religious freedom,"" said Windham.
"So I think this city has sent a really troubling message to Catholics."
Windham noted to CNA that the Trump administration had made a series of recent decisions aimed at protecting religious liberty, and highlighted the president's announcement last month that he would reverse a policy that denied federal funding to adoption organizations that will not work with same-sex couples.
"Unfortunately, the city of Philadelphia did not get the message," said Windham.
Christine Rousselle is a former DC Correspondent for Catholic News Agency. Prior to working at CNA, she was the managing web editor of Townhall.com; she has a BA in political science from Providence College.