What it’s about
An American Jewish couple, Gabe and Liz Rutan-Ram, are shining a spotlight on religious discrimination in adoption processes. They were barred from adopting a child due to their faith, leading to their involvement in a major campaign led by Americans United for the Separation of Church and State (AUSCS). This campaign critiques Project 2025, an agenda proposed by the conservative think tank, The Heritage Foundation, which has faced significant public scrutiny.
Why it matters
The Rutan-Rams’ case emphasizes the potentially exclusionary nature of policies like the Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act, advocated by Project 2025. These policies may allow adoption and foster care agencies to make decisions based on their religious beliefs, affecting diverse families who do not conform to those specific beliefs. The outcome of this campaign could have broader implications for how religious liberties and taxpayer-funded organizations intersect, and it questions the fairness in the provision of public services.
Project 2025 and Religiously-Motivated Exclusion
The Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act under Project 2025 would enable faith-based agencies to prioritize placements aligning with their religious convictions. Critics argue this could leave more children in the foster system while actively discriminating against non-Christian and LGBTQ+ families. Alternatives propose that genuine religious freedom should not extend to discrimination, especially by publicly funded entities.
An Uphill Legal Battle
The Rutan-Rams sued Tennessee’s Department of Children’s Services in 2022 when denied adoption services by a Christian agency on grounds of their Jewish faith, referencing a 2020 state law that legitimizes such discriminatory actions if aligned with religious or moral beliefs. Though their initial case was dismissed, the couple is currently appealing to challenge this policy legally.
Project 2025: Regulatory Fundamentals Under Fire
Despite the introduction of Project 2025 in April 2023, the initiative’s controversial stances have sparked new waves of resistance, indicating ties to figures associated with former President Donald Trump. The project seeks to instill core ideologies reminiscent of Christian nationalism and pertains to reversing LGBTQ+ rights, abortion bans, contraception restrictions, and reallocating funds from public to private religious schools.
AUSCS and Broader Implications
Led by their Jewish CEO, Rachel Laser, formerly of Planned Parenthood and the National Women’s Law Center, the Americans United for the Separation of Church and State argues for a stronger division between church and state. Focusing on cases involving Jewish families, AUSCS has created multimedia content featuring high-profile celebrities to raise awareness about the implications of implementing Project 2025.
This story was first published on timesofisrael.com.