Supreme Court sides with Catholic foster care agency that refused to work with same-sex couples

Washington — The Supreme Court on Thursday sided with a Catholic foster care agency that was cut off by the city of Philadelphia from receiving foster care referrals because it refused to work with same-sex couples looking to serve as foster parents because of the agency's religious beliefs about marriage.

The high court unanimously ruled in favor of the agency, Catholic Social Services. The Supreme Court said the city's refusal to contract with the foster care agency unless it agreed to certify same-sex couples as foster parents violated the First Amendment. The dispute was the latest to come before the justices that pitted religious freedom against LGBTQ rights.  Chief Justice John Roberts delivered the opinion for the court, writing that "it is plain that the city's actions have burdened CSS's religious exercise by putting it to the choice of curtailing its mission or approving relationships inconsistent with its beliefs."