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Bevin Wants Settlement Over Christian Foster Care Groups Thrown Out

Rob Canning

Governor Matt Bevin’s administration is asking a judge to throw out a court settlement aimed at preventing church-run foster care programs from proselytizing to children.

The settlement was made between Democratic Governor Steve Beshear and the American Civil Liberties Union and Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

The Bevin administration says the state’s position has changed now that the Republican is in office.

The Courier-Journal reports the case began when a woman sued the Kentucky Baptist Homes forChildren in 2000 after she was fired for being a lesbian. In her suit, the plaintiff also said her former employer was using religious indoctrination on children in its care.

The state agreed in 2014 to let Americans United and the ACLU access surveys and exit interviews with children to ensure foster programs aren't trying to convert children.

Governor Bevin now wants that agreement thrown out.

An  attorney with one of the groups that settled says the state can’t change course on the settlement, calling it a "binding agreement."

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