By Pete Williams - NBC News
The Supreme Court ruled unanimously on Thursday that the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, exceeded by imposing its anti-discrimination law on a Catholic charity, Catholic Social Services (CSS), which does not consider gay parents eligible to foster children temporarily while they find a foster home.
"Philadelphia's refusal to hire CSS to provide foster care services unless it agrees to certify same-sex couples as foster parents violates the First Amendment," wrote Chief Justice John Roberts.
Several judges contributed concurring opinions to the unanimous decision.
The case required judges to
consider whether the Constitution allows a religious freedom exception to anti-discrimination laws.
It was the first of the major legal disputes of this period to be heard with Amy Coney Barrett, appointed by former President Donald Trump, to the Supreme Court, which now has a conservative majority.
News in development ...
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