The Alberta government has approved the adoption application of a Christian couple who were previously rejected because of their beliefs on homosexuality and same-sex marriage.
According to The Canadian Press, the unnamed couple from Edmonton had filed a judicial review last year with the help of the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF) following the rejection of their application.
The couple, who submitted the application in 2016, claimed in the lawsuit that they initially passed a required course for potential adoptive parents, but were later rejected after they were asked questions about sexuality.
Court documents indicated that the wife is seeking to adopt an older child who might be less likely to be adopted.
The couple reportedly told officials that they do not approve of same-sex marriage and believe that homosexuality is wrong. However, they contended that they treat all people with respect and that their views on sexuality would not affect their ability to care for a child.
The Catholic Social Services had recommended the approval of the couple's application following a review. However, the couple received a letter in March 2017 informing them that the recommendation had been dismissed because they "would be unable to 'help' a child" dealing with sexual identity issues.
The JCCF contended that the rejection violated the couple's rights under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
The organization argued that the government is requiring prospective parents to abandon their beliefs without proving that it would have a negative effect on adopted children.
The Alberta Children's Services conducted a review on the case, and reportedly informed the couple in a letter that the decision to deny the adoption application has been reversed.
"The initial decision is rescinded and your application is now approved," the letter from a senior manager stated, accoeding to CBC.
The JCCF released the letter from the Alberta Children's Services on Tuesday, but a spokeswoman for the government department said that the decision was reversed several months ago.
"Families are not denied adoptions based on religious beliefs, and a diversity of belief systems can be found in the Alberta families and homes that have been approved to adopt a child," spokeswoman Karin Campbell said, according to The Canadian Press.
She noted that the ministry evaluates each adoptive family's "strengths, abilities and desires" to determine whether a child would be a good fit for the prospective parents.
JCCF lawyer John Carpay said that the couple was pleased with the reversal of the decision. "The government has no right to discriminate on the basis of religion when looking at couples who are seeking to adopt," Carpay said on Wednesday, according to The Canadian Press.
"You can't say that someone can't become an adoptive parent because they're Muslim, they're Jewish or because they're evangelical Christian," he added.
