Ill. foster-care dispute a matter of law and faith

ST. LOUIS — In large part due to their faith, Mark Zartman and Beth Banuelos swung open their families' doors to children from broken homes in southern Illinois. Over the years, some two dozen kids have found refuge with the Zartmans, and about 50 with the Banueloses.

Yet the Air Force retiree from Bartelso and the family counselor from Mascoutah are now among about 2,000 Illinois foster parents who face a painful decision if the government succeeds in ending its four-decade relationship with a Catholic charity over its opposition to Illinois' new civil unions law.

Both families fostered children through Catholic Charities, but they would have to work with a different agency to continue partnering with the state if the nonprofit ultimately loses a legal fight. And they've chosen different paths — Banuelos to continue, Zartman to walk away.

"We prayed about it, talked about it. Sometimes you have to take a stand, and sometimes (it's) hard," said Zartman, 51, a member of a Pentecostal church.

"I'm torn," said Banuelos, 60, a Lutheran. "If we turn our backs on working with another agency, where is it going to leave the kids?"

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services wants to cancel contracts totaling more than $30.6 million with Catholic Charities in four Illinois dioceses because the nonprofit refuses to recognize the law that allows unmarried couples — gay or straight — to legally enter into civil unions. If such couples wanted to be foster or adoptive parents, the charity would steer them to other agencies.

Catholic Charities sued the state in July, arguing it shouldn't be forced to place children in homes of unmarried couples and that state laws provide religious exemptions. A judge sided with the state, and the charity is appealing.

As the legal dispute plays out in court, the families involved say the matter is also one of faith and loyalty.

Catholic Charities is handling about 2,000 of the state's 15,400 foster care and adoption cases. Church officials say many families with which they work may not want to continue with another agency.

"We're the most-needed program in southern Illinois," said Gary Huelsmann, executive director of Catholic Social Services of Southern Illinois, a Belleville diocese entity that handles about 630 foster children for the state.