Supreme Court's Fulton Decision Reinforces Religious Freedom Protections

On June 17, 2021, the United States Supreme Court ruled unanimously (9-0) that the City of Philadelphia’s refusal to contract with a church-affiliated group for the provision of foster care services—unless it agreed to certify same-sex couples as foster parents—violates religious free exercise protected by the US Constitution’s First Amend­ment.

Catholic charity served the city for more than 50 years

The Catholic Church has served the needy children of Philadelphia for over two centuries. In 1798, a priest in the city organized an association to care for orphans whose parents had died in a yellow fever epidemic. During the 19th century, nuns ran asylums for or­phaned and destitute youth. Later, the Church established the Children’s Bureau to place children in foster homes. Catholic Social Services (CSS) continues that mission today.

The Philadelphia foster ...