Troubling legislation

Regarding “Adoption measure approved in House” (Page A3, May 10), pending Texas legislation regarding adoption policy is deeply disturbing from a public policy standpoint and likely also unconstitutional.

House Bill 3859, passed by the Texas House and pending in the Senate, would provide state-funded or private child welfare agencies, through their employees, the power to assert their religious beliefs as a basis for discriminating against potential parents because the couple or person is Jewish, Muslim or inter-faith or because the agency disagrees with the prospective parents’ religious beliefs or lack thereof.

Denying hopeful parents the right to adopt or foster children because of their religious convictions is morally wrong and offensive.

The only consideration for a child welfare agency should be the best interests of the child — not advancing the beliefs of a state contractor.

The number of children without families far exceeds the number of able and loving homes. Child welfare agencies should place children in need — many of our state’s most vulnerable residents — with qualified individuals regardless of their theology. These children should not be denied the opportunity to live in loving homes based on the religious beliefs of a prospective parent.

This bill clearly facilitates discrimination against religious minorities. Neither Texas nor its taxpayers should be supporting such discrimination. Rachel G. Bresner, Southwest civil rights counsel, Anti-Defamation League, Houston