ACLU: Muslim woman rejected as foster parent
The American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland has filed a complaint with a city agency on behalf of a Muslim woman whose application to be a foster mother was denied, in part, because she does not allow pork in her home, Baltimore Sun colleague Brent Jones reports.
Tashima Crudup, 26, said she contacted Contemporary Family Services in July and went through 50 hours worth of training classes to become a foster parent. The organization is a private company authorized by the state to place foster children with families.
The complaint alleges that Crudup's application was denied after it was discovered during the interview process that she prohibits pork products in her Middle River home. In a letter dated Oct. 12 from Contemporary Family Services, the company tells Crudup that the application is being denied out of "concerns raised by statements made during the home study interview, specifically your explicit request to prohibit pork products within your home environment. Although we respect your personal/religious views and practices, this agency must above all ensure that the religious, cultural and personal rights of each foster child placed in our care are upheld."
Crudup earlier this year reached out to the ACLU, who filed a complaint with the Baltimore City Community Relations Commission over the incident Wednesday.
Comments
Contemporary Family Services claims to be a 501(c) (3) non-profit but I can't seem to find them listed anywhere as a charity on the IRS website. Maybe someone else has been able to do so.
I'm allergic to chicken myself. No fried chickens in my kitchens. I wonder if they would use that against me.
Posted by: Dana LaRocca | April 14, 2010 5:06 PM
Dana - Looks like you're out too. How can we have you discriminatying against some religion who requires its members to eat fried chickens.
Posted by: ravensfan | April 14, 2010 5:37 PM
If it ruffles their feathers that's just to bad.
Posted by: Dana LaRocca | April 14, 2010 6:35 PM
As a former advocate of neglected and abused children, I am abundantly aware of the need to place children in healthy homes. But it seems to me that the pork issue is the excuse that was given but likely not the real reason. I wonder if vegetarians are allowed to be foster parents.
Posted by: j. samia mair | April 14, 2010 8:06 PM
Ms. Mair,
It was in poor taste on my part to make light of a serious issue. I apologize.
My primary point was the 501(c) (3) status that Contemporary Family Services (aka Contemporary Services, Inc.) claims. It is not listed at the IRS website, the website of the State of Maryland Secretary of State (charity search), or the National Center for Charitable Statistics at the Urban Institute. Therefore I am concerned about the legitimacy of their non-profit status.
It is clear that religion (and not pork) is the basis of the organization's decision. Beyond that their line of questioning was both inappropriate and ignorant. Being asked "whether her husband would take a second wife," was beyond the realm of decency. Indeed, it was after reading that little snippet of stupidity that I began to wonder if this so-called "charity" was what it claims to be.
Again, I apologize for my frivolous tone and pray you will understand that I am well aware of the serious civil rights issues raised by this incident.
Astaghfirullah.
Posted by: Dana LaRocca | April 14, 2010 11:03 PM
Dear Dana,
My comment was not in response to your comment and I enjoyed your comment about eating chickens. I also think your comment highlights the absurdity of the excuse provided about pork. So, no apologizes are necessary. :)
Posted by: j. samia mair | April 15, 2010 8:33 AM