Faith-based adoption agencies in Michigan will be able to deny potential adoptive parents on the basis of their religious beliefs if a package of bills passes the Senate.
The bills— HB 4188, 4189 and 4190— passed the state's House of Representatives in 65-44 votes on Wednesday.
The legislation would also allow the agencies to deny same-sex and unmarried couples, if such couples are contradictory to the organisation's belief system.
All the state's republicans, except for Rep. Mike Callton (R-Nashville), voted in favour of the bills. They were joined by democratic Reps. George Darany (Dearborn), Robert Kosowski (Westland), and Harvey Santana (Detroit).
Michigan Catholic Conference Public Policy Vice President Tom Hickson heralded the bills as a means of increasing the number of adopted children.
"Securing diversity in child placement and protecting religious liberty rights for faith based agencies will move children out of the foster care system," he said in a statement. "Without this legislation there will likely be fewer providers, which means fewer opportunities to find homes for kids that need them."
Rep. Andrea LaFontaine (R-Columbus) said that the provisions made in the legislation are already in use in the state.
"These bills simply preserve the system we use today," she insisted. "This bill is not about who can and who cannot adopt a child. It's about ensuring the most alternatives for people wanting to adopt a child."
Many Democrats condemned the legislation, however.
"It's not just discrimination," said Rep. Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor). "It's writing a check for discrimination. It's state-funded discrimination.
"The only reason you're voting for this bill is that you're blinded by your own faith."
Rep. Jon Hoadley (D-Kalamazoo), one of two openly gay Michigan representatives, called the bills' passage scary.
"These bills put the best interest of the agency over the best interest of the child," he said. "And it violates the constitution because it elevates some religious beliefs over others."
Gov. Rick Snyder has voiced concerns about the legislation, and told reporters that he wants children to be adopted by "loving families" and "loving parents."
The bills now move to the state Senate, where they stalled last year.
