Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is looking for a way to give an exemption to Catholic Charities in Massachusetts from a state law barring discrimination against gays looking to adopt kids.
Here’s the thing: How does one enforce a ban on a negative? In other words, how do you know if Catholic Charities is discriminating against gays? Only 13 out of 720 adoptions over the past two decades went to gays. If no gay couple gets a kid this year is that evidence of discrimination?
Of course, the exemption means there’s no rigamarole and no “don’t ask, don’t tell.” It also means the Church can live out her principles in public without shame while continuing adoptions and without giving the impression that she’s compromising herself. But my point goes back to why this is such a big deal? Why is the United Way, the state Legislature, and the board of Catholic Charities so intent on continuing a practice which everyone admits gives only a baker’s dozen kids to gays in two decades, especially when there are other adoption agencies quite willing to accommodate them?
The myth of the gay adoptive parents
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