A US federal district court has issued an order preventing the state of New York from shutting down a faith-based adoption provider over its religious beliefs.

The New York State Office of Children and Family Services had singled out the nonprofit for its policy, guided by its religious beliefs, of placing children it serves in homes with a married mother and father.

The summary judgment order prohibits OCFS from enforcing state law “insofar as it would compel New Hope to process applications from, or place children for adoption with, same-sex couples or unmarried cohabitating couples, and insofar as it would prevent New Hope from referring such couples to other agencies.”

“The court’s decision is great news for children waiting to be adopted and for the parents partnering with New Hope Family Services to provide loving, stable homes,” said ADF Senior Counsel Roger Brooks. “New Hope is a private religious ministry that doesn’t take a dime from the government. Shutting down an adoption provider for its religious beliefs—needlessly and unconstitutionally reducing the number of agencies willing to help—benefits no one—certainly not children”.