Protect Nebraska's Faith-Based Adoption Services
| Target Name | Target Organization |
| Sen. Les Seiler, Chairperson | (Judiciary Committee) |
| Sen. Ernie Chambers | (Judiciary Committee) |
| Sen. Colby Coash | (Judiciary Committee) |
| Sen. Laura Ebke | (Judiciary Committee) |
| Sen. Bob Krist | (Judiciary Committee) |
| Sen. Adam Morfeld | (Judiciary Committee) |
| Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks | (Judiciary Committee) |
| Sen. Matt Williams | (Judiciary Committee) |
The Nebraska Legislature is considering a bill that would protect faith-based foster care and adoption agencies. LB 975, the "Child Welfare Services Preservation Act," would ensure that faith-based agencies can continue to operate in accord with their sincerely held religious beliefs.
Nebraska faith-based foster care and adoption agencies truly need the protections that would be provided by this bill.
Senator (Dist. 46) Adam Morfeld has even filed a complaint with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services requesting that three faith-based agencies be investigated.
According to the Nebraska Family Alliance,
On February 17, during the committee hearing for the Child Welfare Services Preservation Act, LB 975, Senator Adam Morfeld accused faith-based agencies of discriminating based on religion and breaking federal law.
By February 22, Senator Morfeld had filed an official complaint with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. Why? Because faith-based agencies acknowledged that when they recruit and train foster families, they work with Christian families who regularly attend church and sign their statement of faith. Senator Morfeld is arguing that by doing this, these agencies are “denying their services” to people on the basis of religion. His official complaint states,
“Should the department discover any form of discrimination… I request you immediately develop a plan to terminate that organization’s contract with the state.” (emphasis added)
Although we expect these faith-based agencies to be found guiltless of any wrong-doing, the fact that Senator Morfeld has filed this complaint is proof that Nebraska needs stronger protections for faith-based agencies. There are legislators in Nebraska that want to see faith-based agencies forced to choose between abandoning their faith or abandoning the children and families they serve.
These agencies, and hundreds like them across the country, have been operating within the boundaries of the law for decades. Faith-based agencies have met the needs of hundreds of thousands of our nation’s most vulnerable children. In 2015 in Nebraska alone, these agencies served more than 500 children.
We must reclaim religious liberty – the freedom to live and work according to one’s beliefs – before it’s too late. Senator Morfeld’s open hostility towards faith-based organizations represents the threat to religious liberty in our own communities and across the country.
Right now, LB 975 has not been voted out of the Judiciary Committee to go before the full legislature. It is critical this happens soon.
Please join with Nebraskans in contacting the Senate Judiciary Committee to let them know you support religious freedom for faith-based child welfare agencies.
The Petition
Please Pass LB975 Out of Committee
The Child Welfare Services Preservation Act is currently in the Judiciary Committee awaiting passage. LB 975 would protect faith-based foster care and adoption agencies from violating their deeply held beliefs.
These agencies, and hundreds like them across the country, have been operating within the boundaries of the law for decades. Faith-based agencies have met the needs of hundreds of thousands of our nation’s most vulnerable children. In 2015 in Nebraska alone, these agencies served more than 500 children.
- Faith-based child welfare agencies shouldn’t be forced to choose between abandoning their faith and abandoning the children and families they serve.
- Faith-based organizations in Nebraska have been serving children and families in our state long before the creation of governmental social-service agencies.
- Communities in San Francisco, Massachusetts, Illinois and the District of Columbia have witnessed the collective loss of a 400-year history of invaluable and effective services on behalf of vulnerable children.
- Nebraska’s most vulnerable children can’t afford to lose one safe, loving and supportive foster family.
- It would undermine the best interests of children to force faith-based child welfare agencies to stop providing much needed foster and adoption services.
- Nebraska contracts with diverse agencies to recruit families of different races, nationalities, faiths, or no faith at all.
Would you please urge the committee to take action soon on this bill and bring it to the floor for a vote?
And, when that does happen, would you please support this legislation? Thank you for your service and for taking the time to hear my opinion.
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