Catholic Agencies May Refuse to Adopt to Gays

Catholic adoption agencies won’t be penalized by the state for refusing to consider gays and lesbians as adoptive parents, though doing so violates state anti-discrimination laws.

The state Department of Early Education, which regulates adoption agencies, said it was not taking action because Gov. Mitt Romney had proposed legislation that could allow the agencies to refrain from considering gays on religious grounds.

Romney proposed the bill after Catholic Charities of Boston announced last month it was ending its adoption services because it could not reconcile state law with church teachings.