I’m not too pleased about most of what goes on in Illinois, but I’m all over this. The Civil Unions act (750 ILCS 75/) is designed so same sex and either sex couples may enter into an agreement that gives them the rights and remedies of spouses. This is extremely important for any number of really good reasons, not only for same sex couples, but for elderly people living together and caring for one another. THis happens a lot more often than you think. One way or another, what is- or should be- important to the individuals is the commitment they make to one another. The Civil Union just recognizes their relationship for legal reasons; if youfeel you need a piece of paper to make your relationship “Legitimate”, you do not have much of a relationship.

The law of unintended consequences always bites hard, though. Catholic Charities, who are a large force in foster care for children, will be forced to close their doors. They cannot in good conscience grant children to same sex couples, so will get out of the business in Illinois. They could have been granted a waiver, but the legislature chose not to, and if a same sex couple shows up and asks to adopt a kid, and the Catholics, who cannot countenance that, do not allow it, it is discrimination under law and the church gets hammered. So because the absolutists would not allow that exemption- which had NO effect on the civil unions- a group of people doing good work gets to shut it’s doors, probably forever.

Gotta break eggs, I suppose.