By Milt Harris ——Bio and Archives--August 14, 2023
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Hatred is a singular emotion that manifests in countless forms. At times it’s pure and focused, other times it is the bi-product of something else. Hatred very often not only affects its target, but innocent others may find they have become collateral damage in its presence.
Recently in Massachusetts, hatred in the form of an agenda, disguised as a progressive viewpoint, damaged not only its intended target, but innocent children in a totally unjustified and unfair manner.
Two loving, caring people Mike and Catherine Burke, are now suing state officials for discrimination. The couple that have already endured the heartbreak of infertility, decided to become foster parents with the intention of eventually adopting. Unfortunately, their plan was undermined by the woke agenda of the radical left.
Being Catholic, the Burkes believe that marriage should take place between a man and a woman. Obviously by extrapolation, they believe that sex should only occur within that realm. They also have the outlandish opinion that children should not undergo mutilation in order to satisfy the socially manipulated mental disorder that the left calls gender dysphoria.
In an interview with Fox News the Burkes lamented their story:
“After months of interviews and training, and after years of heartbreak, we were on the verge of finally becoming parents. We were absolutely devastated to learn that Massachusetts would rather children sleep in the hallways of hospitals than let us welcome children in need into our home.”
The Burkes are being represented by Will Haun, an attorney with The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty. Haun described the home interviews that were conducted by the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF) like this:
"During the home interviews, the Burkes were troubled that much of the questioning centered around their views on sexuality and their response if a child were, in the future, to struggle with gender dysphoria or to identify as gay or lesbian. They estimate that a third of the time in the interviews was spent on these questions."
Haun summarized the Becket’s views in this way:
“As faithful Catholics, the Burkes believe that all children should be loved and supported, and they would never reject a child placed in their home. They also believe that children should not undergo procedures that attempt to change their God-given sex, and they uphold Catholic beliefs about marriage and sexuality.”
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Sadly, the DCF exploited their outrageous Marxist policies and denied the Burkes application, citing that they would not be “affirming to a child who identified as LGBTQIA.”
In an interview last week, Hahn reminded everyone that the DCF was victimizing children by enforcing such a wrong minded agenda.
“DCF has a lot of flexibility to maximize the number of foster families in the system. But, instead, … Massachusetts used that discretion as a weapon against religious families who have disfavored beliefs."
Here we have a couple being punished that has done absolutely nothing wrong. They are offering a child that currently does not have a family, a home with unconditional love. The fact that they disagree with a radical viewpoint, that probably will never even develop, is what DCF is using to deny a foster child a home.
The Burkes summed up their feelings this way.
“We understand and respect that everyone may have a different opinion on the matter. And we are not trying to irrationally impose limits on anyone’s beliefs. We simply want to be given the same respect to live our beliefs that the State shows to people with different beliefs.”
I don’t want the magnitude of this to be lost. This is a state agency that is denying a child a secure home because a loving couple doesn’t agree with a radical alternate lifestyle. This is a perfect example of the tail wagging the dog.
This cannot be tolerated. Transgenderism is not even close to being considered a mainstream lifestyle. In fact, none of the alphabet lifestyles are mainstream. Yet, the leftists in charge at this agency are forcing its acceptance in a take it or leave it policy.
Hatred in this case, is a bi-product of an unrealistic, perverted agenda. The Massachusetts DCF targeted the Burkes, but the nameless and faceless children behind the scenes were deliberate collateral damage. These rulings not only have the unsavory affect of denying them a home, but with people like this in charge you know there is pressure on them about alternate lifestyles.
The left is spreading a vicious social contagion. It not only can destroy the lives of those infected, but very often the loved ones of those trying to save them.
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Milt spent thirty years as a sales and operations manager for an international manufacturing company. He is also a four-time published author on a variety of subjects. Now, he spends most of his time researching and writing about conservative politics and liberal folly.