Jewish Families Are Already Struggling to Foster and Adopt
Many advocates are working to bring more attention to the countless number of Jewish families around the country who are facing multiple roadblocks in their attempt to foster and adopt children.
Source: cottonbro studio/Pexels
Parents of various faiths — those who follow Judaism, Islam, and more — have found that their state doesn’t allow them to foster or adopt children. According to the state, this is because they are not Christian.
Tennessee’s Christian State Funded Agency
One example can be found in Liz and Gabe Rutan-Ram’s story. In 2021, the Rutan-Rams decided to expand their family and looked to foster or adopt a child.
Source: Aaron Burden/Unsplash
After they reached out to the state-funded foster care placement agency, they were told they did not qualify to adopt or foster within the program. This agency is a Christian state-funded agency.
Religious State-Run Agencies Reject Other Religions
According to this state-run agency, the Rutan-Rams were rejected because the agency only provides “adoption services to prospective adoptive families that share our belief system.”
Source: Tim Wildsmith/Unsplash
As the Rutan-Rams are Jewish, they could not work with this agency, which is Christian. Both the Rutan-Rams were completely shocked by this information.
A Difficult Journey
Liz Rutan-Ram recently opened up about this difficult journey, as she believes the state-run agency attacked her and her husband personally because they were Jewish and not Christian.
Source: Austin Lowman/Unsplash
She said, “There’s already emotions playing into wanting to be a parent, and then to have us attacked personally just made it that much harder.”
Taking Tennessee to Court
Because of this discrimination, the Rutan-Rams are taking the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services to court.
Source: Tingey Injury Law Firm/Unsplash
The couple is arguing that the Tennessee state law that permits private agencies — such as the state-funded foster care placement agency — to refuse to work with people because of their religion violates the Tennessee constitution.
Project 2025’s Ultimate Goal on Adoption
Since this event has played out, Americans United for Separation of Church and State has worked with the Rutan-Rams, as well as other individuals and families, who have found themselves in similar situations.
Source: Kelli McClintock/Unsplash
The group has warned that this state law found in Tennessee may become a reality for the entire United States, thanks to Project 2025.
State Laws vs National Laws
A handful of other states also have similar laws to Tennessee that make it harder for parents of varying faiths to foster or adopt children. However, Amanda Tyler, the executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, has explained that Project 2025 could be worse than these state laws.
Source: Kenny Eliason/Unsplash
“What’s different about Project 2025 is the sweeping nature of its plan,” Tyler said. “It would really rewrite the federal government and change policies in so many different areas at once in a way that would hasten our journey down that road to authoritarian theocracy.”
Project 2025 Limits Who Can Foster and Adopt Children
Project 2025 lays out a plan that would limit who can foster and adopt children, while also protecting religious state-funded agencies such as the one that rejected the Rutan-Rams because they are Jewish.
Source: olia danilevich/Pexels
The plan explains that it will protect these “faith-based adoption agencies” because they are “under threat from lawsuits.”
Project 2025’s Christian Nationalism
Many critics have stated that Project 2025 is a Christian nationalist plan that would reject parents who are unmarried, LGBTQ+, or of any faith other than Christian. Therefore, only Christian, straight parents would be able to foster and adopt.
Source: Gregory Hayes/Unsplash
The project also calls for the Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act to be passed, which would allow agencies to make placement decisions based on their own “religious beliefs or moral convictions.”
Repealing Discrimination Regulations
The project also details their intent to repeal regulations that have prohibited discrimination against parents who are looking to foster or adopt. These regulations were passed during former President Barack Obama’s era.
Source: Kindel Media/Pexels
However, President Joe Biden’s administration added amendments to these regulations to help ensure discrimination isn’t occurring during fostering or adoption. Project 2025 wants to repeal these regulations.
Families Fight Back
Many Jewish families, such as the Rutan-Rams, as well as parents of varying faiths, have banded together to fight back against these current state laws — as well as shed more light on what Project 2025 wants.
Source: cottonbro studio/Pexels
Though former President Donald Trump has distanced himself from the project, many remain worried that the plans in this document could become a reality if Trump is reelected.