A U.S. federal judge ruled in favor of a Christian adoption agency on Monday when it blocked the state of New York from closing the agency over its policy on same-sex adoption.
 
The case involves a policy by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) that requires adoption agencies to place children in opposite-sex and same-sex homes. OCFS threatened to close a faith-based adoption ministry, New Hope Family Services, over its policy which prohibits the placement of children in same-sex homes or in the homes of any unwed couples. New Hope says when such a couple is interested in adoption, it “refers them to the appropriate county social services office or another provider.” The agency sued OCFS in federal court, claiming violations of its constitutionally protected rights of religious liberty and free speech.

On Monday, District Judge Mae A. D'Agostino agreed with the agency and issued an injunction against the state, saying the agency likely will succeed in its suit. “The Court finds that the totality of the evidence weighs in favor of a finding of hostility” toward religion, she wrote. Enforcing the state policy, she ruled, “runs contrary to the state's interest in maximizing the number of families available for adoption.” 

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