From Fox News: Christian foster parents in Massachusetts are challenging a state policy that requires them to affirm and encourage the medical transition of children in their care who identify as transgender or risk losing their foster care licenses.
The lawsuit, filed Sept. 3, names two families — the Jones and the Schrocks — who foster young children and infants.
Both families say they have either lost or are at risk of losing their licenses because of the policy, which requires foster parents to sign agreements to “promote,” “support” and “affirm” a child’s gender identity or expression.
The Christian families argue that complying with the policy would violate their religious beliefs.
The report explains that Massachusetts never required foster families to pledge to confirm a child’s “gender identity” until 2023 and 2024 (during the Biden administration), when the state started requiring families to sign agreements that they would speak and act in certain ways with regards to gender identity.
According to religious liberty legal group Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), the Jones and Schrock families have previously fostered 35 children in total, and both homes were always in good standing before the new rules were issued.
Now, because the families refused to sign the agreement, the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families is cracking down. And the issue isn’t about older gender-confused children. The state is taking away infants and young children.
The state is reportedly planning to remove a 17-month old little girl from the Jones home, who has lived with them since she was only 2 months old.
In addition, the state revoked the foster license from the Schrocks home in June after they refused to comply with the new gender policy, despite that they have successfully cared for 28 foster children over the last six years.
Evangelical leader Franklin Graham voiced his outrage over the case. In a statement on Facebook, he wrote:
These Christian foster parents in Massachusetts cannot agree to “promote,” “support,” and “affirm” a child’s “gender identity or expression”—so the state wants to revoke their license. How tragic! And Massachusetts has a foster parent shortage with more than 1,400 children waiting to be placed with a family.
The Schrock family and the Jones family are pushing back legally and asking the court to protect their rights. The Schrocks have cared for 28 foster children in the last 6 years and had their license revoked in June after telling the state that they could not comply with its policy. The state plans to remove the Jones’ 17-month-old foster daughter from their home, where she has lived for over a year, because they wouldn’t sign the agreement.
I’m thankful for the team at Alliance Defending Freedom and their work to protect the rights of these Christian parents. Let’s pray for these families—that the court will find in their favor. Leave an encouraging word for them in the comments below.
Alliance Defending Freedom announced Thursday, “While more than 1,400 children wait for loving homes in Massachusetts, the foster care system is revoking the licenses of Christian families based on their religious beliefs. Yesterday, we filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of two families.”
While more than 1,400 children wait for loving homes in Massachusetts, the foster care system is revoking the licenses of Christian families based on their religious beliefs.
Yesterday, we filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of two families.
Learn more: https://t.co/BsWhg97ftE pic.twitter.com/pc8A4C7x3Z
— Alliance Defending Freedom (@ADFLegal) September 4, 2025
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