Boston archdiocese helps gays to adopt

BOSTON (AP) -- The social services agency of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston has allowed 13 foster children to be adopted by same-sex couples in the past two decades, despite Vatican teachings against homosexuality.
Leaders of Catholic Charities of Boston said state regulations prohibit the agency from discriminating based on sexual orientation.
The 13 adoptions -- out of 720 placements by Catholic Charities in that period -- occurred as part of the nonprofit's contract with the state Department of Social Services. The children placed with gay couples are among the most difficult to place, either because they are older or have physical or emotional problems.
Hehir said if his agency excluded gay couples, it would be barred from helping the hundreds of foster children that went to heterosexual couples.
Catholic Charities signed its state adoption contract in 1987.
The Catholic Church views gay relationships as "intrinsically disordered." Locally, the archdiocese has been lobbying for a state constitutional ban of same-sex marriage, which is legal in Massachusetts.
C.J. Doyle, executive director of the Catholic Action League of Massachusetts said: "No religious organization ought to be forced to compromise its principle as a condition of its social services."