Man Objecting to Foster Parents Fired

Larry Phillips contends that he was verbally assaulted, mocked, harassed, and eventually fired by his Missouri Division of Family Services supervisors because of his objections to the placement of children in homes of homosexual foster parents.

In April 1995, Phillips, who was a social worker at the Division of Family Services from March 1994 to November 1996, questioned the placement of a child with a lesbian parent. He says his supervisor told him he “was being intolerant” and his religious beliefs “were affecting his ability to perform his job effectively.”

But Phillips, of Kansas City, is fighting back with a lawsuit. He is seeking damages from the state of Missouri for wrongful termination.

Missouri Department of Social Services spokesperson Debbie Hendricks says the agency “does not license openly homosexual couples to be foster parents.” But she says prospective single parents are not asked about their sexual orientation.

Currently about 25 states allow adoption by one homosexual parent. In December, New Jersey became the first state to allow an adoption by a homosexual couple.

Copyright © 1998 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Also in this issue

How Much Truth Can We Take? South Africa looks for healing from its violent past. Christian people and Christian ideas take the lead.

Cover Story

How much truth can We take?

Between a Nightmare and a Dream

Classic & Contemporary Excerpts from February 09, 1998

Revival: Brownsville Revival Rolls Onward

Moon-Related Funds Filter to Evangelicals

Profamily Groups Demand More Cyberporn Prosecutions

Prisons: Unique Prison Program Serves as Boot Camp for Heaven

New York City: King's College Resurrection Signals Big Apple's Renewal

Imprisoned Evangelicals Dispute Accusations of Terrorism

Growing Criticism

Jesus’ Unanswered Prayers

Cry with a Beloved Country

The Word Became Art

Strict Antimissionary Bill Retooled

Plans Under Way for Next Day of Prayer

New Leaders Emerging After Civil War

Assemblies of God Church Attacked

NAE President Argue Takes New Post

Split Nearing for Texas Convention

Gender Revisions Completed on NIrV

Tin Drum Oklahoma Clash Marches On

Does Evangelical Theology Have a Future?

News

News Briefs: February 09, 1998

News

News Briefs: February 09, 1998

A Tough Choice

We Get Letters

Editorial

Let the Prisoners Work

Editorial

Wimber’s Wonders

Exposing the Myth That Christians Should Not Have Emotional Problems

I’m Not OK, You’re Not OK

The Alpha-Brits Are Coming

News

Seeker Sensitive on Russia's Frozen Frontier

A Pilgrim on the Way

The Real Reformers are Traditionalists

A Theology to Die For

The 'Jackie Robinson' of Evangelism

Why We Love This Deadly Sin

Don't Blame the Publishers!

The Struggle for Lincoln's Soul

Paid in Full

Racism’s Faces of Faith

View issue

Our Latest

The Bulletin

Young Republican Texts, Anglican Split, and George Santos Released

Controversial Republican texts, Anglican Communion splits, and George Santos’s sentence is commuted.

Review

Do Evangelical Political Errors Rise to the Level of Heresy?

A Lutheran pastor identifies five false teachings that threaten to corrupt the church’s public witness.

Highlights and Lowlights of 1957

In its first full year of publication, CT looked at Civil Rights, Cold War satellites, artificial insemination, and carefully planned evangelism.

News

Will There Be a Christian Super Bowl Halftime Show?

Conservatives suggest country and Christian artist alternatives for game day.

News

As Madagascar’s Government Topples, Pastors Call for Peace

Gen Z–led protests on the African island nation led to a military takeover.

News

Amid Fragile Cease-Fire, Limited Aid Reaches Gazans

Locals see the price of flour rise and fall as truce is strained and some borders remain closed.

News

Federal Job Cuts Hit Home as Virginia Picks Its Next Governor

Meanwhile, the GOP candidate draws from Trump’s playbook to focus on transgender issues in schools. 

Religious OCD and Me

Scrupulosity latches onto the thing we hold most dear—our relationship with God.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube