By Todd Hatton
Murray, KY – Catholic Charities says it's ending its legal battle over Illinois' civil unions law and has stopped providing state-funded services. The move ends the group's four decade-long history in the state of providing foster care and adoptions. Catholic Charities wanted to continue its state contracts and its practice of referring unmarried couples who want to be adoptive or foster parents to other agencies. But the group cited principles of religious liberty and freedom of conscience in its decision to drop its legal efforts. The state had said that practice violated the new law. It allows unmarried couples, gay or straight, to legally enter into civil unions. Diocesan officials in Joliet, Springfield and Belleville say the decision was reached "with great reluctance."