Florida Catholic Bishops Praise Passage of HB 7111 by Florida

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Michael Sheedy
Executive Director
(850) 205-6824
msheedy@flacathconf.org
Florida Catholic Bishops Praise Passage of HB 7111 by Florida House
Conscience Protection for Private Child-Placing Agencies
Tallahassee, FL (April 9, 2015) - The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops (FCCB) applauds
today’s passage of HB 7111, Conscience Protection for Private Child-Placing Agencies, by the
Florida House of Representatives.
As noted in earlier debate in the House, FCCB echoes, “HB 7111 is a shield, not a sword.” This
legislation preserves the freedom of religious organizations to place Florida's children in need of
adoption with loving families while adding no new barriers to the adoption process for any
qualified Florida residents.
The religious beliefs that this bill seeks to protect arise from the same deeply-held
convictions that have prompted people of faith to serve the neediest of Florida’s children
for decades. Conscience protections prohibit discrimination of religious adoption agencies
by the State and recognize and respect their freedom to serve. “Today’s passage of HB
7111 gives encouragement that the longstanding good work by people of faith to unite
children with families through adoption and foster care will continue,” said Michael Sheedy,
executive director.
The FCCB commends the Florida House of Representatives for passage of HB 7111 and
lauds Chairman Brodeur for championing critical conscience protections. The Florida
Senate is urged to take up this measure and ensure the freedom to serve for private childplacing agencies.
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The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops is an agency of the Catholic Bishops of Florida. It speaks for the Church
in matters of public policy and serves as liaison to the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government. The
archbishop and bishops of the seven (arch)dioceses in Florida constitute its board of directors.