Bettnet has a series of posts up (here's the first) about the recent decision by Catholic Charities of Boston to get out of the adoption business rather than comply with a state antidiscrimination law that would force them to place children with same-sex couples.
Catholic hospitals, Catholic pharmacists, Catholic medical professionals, Catholic lawyers, Catholic organizations and employees of all sorts, take note: Sometimes the law requires you to do something contrary to your principles, something that is wrong, or else to "get out of the business." Sometimes your job requires you to do something that is wrong, or else to be fired.
The only right thing to do, when all appeals are exhausted, is to get out of the business, to resign, to refuse to take the case, perhaps to be fired.
It isn't pretty, it isn't fun, but it's better than doing wrong. We are not allowed to do evil so that good can come of it, not ever.
Invariably, when someone refuses to bring about a good by doing wrong, critics bewail the loss of the good that might have been, and blame the one who refrains from wrong. It's hard criticism. Stand firm.
If you do, another door to do good by doing good might open:
Within an hour of the announcement, Gov. Mitt Romney said he planned to file a bill that would allow religious organizations to seek an exemption from the state’s anti-discrimination laws to provide adoption services.
Or not. But stand firm anyway.
(Wording alert: This AP article appearing in the Star Tribune says that CC of Boston "would stop providing adoption services because of a state law allowing gays and lesbians to adopt children." Question: Is it because of a state law "allowing" adoption by gays and lesbians, or rather, because of a state law "forbidding" adoption agencies to restrict themselves to placing children with married heterosexual couples? There is a difference, and if it's the latter, then the article is misleading. I haven't been able to find the text of the law.)
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