Catholic groups in Colorado are
threatening to shut down their adoption services over a proposed bill
which seeks to recognize gay and lesbian couples with civil unions.
According to Catholic
News Agency, changes in the proposed bill from last year's
failed version worry Jennifer Kraska, executive director of the
Colorado Catholic Conference.
Kraska said the new version no longer
excludes child placement agencies.
“We feel it would be a very sad
commentary if Colorado forced religious institutions or those who
believe in a different framework to do something against their
conscience,” said Mark Rohlena, president and CEO of Catholic
Charities of Central Colorado.
Rohlena said his organization “probably
would cease the operation of our adoption programs” if told it
could not discriminate against gay couples in civil unions.
“That risk is always there,”
Rohlena added, despite the fact that his group does not receive state
funds to “any significant degree.”
The Colorado Catholic Conference will
stage a protest rally against passage of the civil unions bill at the
State Capitol in Denver on January 25.