Catholics, Evangelical Christians, Orthodox Jews and Muslims who want to be foster parents have been put on notice: If you practice a faith that treats homosexuality as a sin, you cannot foster children in Massachusetts.

There, child and family services officials believe it is better for a kid to grow up unloved, in an orphanage, than it is to be placed in a two-parent loving home with people of deep religious convictions.

They fear that these religious folks might not behave in the government-approved manner if a child in their care was to announce he or she is gay or trans.

Mike and Kitty Burke, a Catholic couple unable to have children of their own, filed suit in federal court after they were blocked from becoming foster parents solely because of their faith.

According to the Daily Signal:

During the foster parents screening process, the couple were interrogated regarding their Catholic faith and the Catholic Church’s teachings on homosexuality and transgenderism, with officials declaring Mike and Kitty “would not be affirming to a child who identified as LGBTQIA...”

The lawsuit makes clear that the Burkes not only successfully completed foster care training but were consistently praised by DCF (Department of Children and Families) officials. One interviewer said the couple “really seems to understand adoption/foster care.”

During the interview on sexuality and gender, Mike and Kitty affirmed they would “love [a child identifying as LGBT] the same” and would not reject or refuse to care for any foster child but insisted any child they cared for “would need to live a chaste life.”

Simply put: They were rejected because they said they wouldn’t want their kid - straight, gay or otherwise - engaging in teenage sex.

Silly me. I thought that was the desire of every parent.

Massachusetts is on its way to a collision with the U.S. Supreme Court that ruled in 2021 that Philadelphia could not scrap an agreement with Catholic Social Services to place needy children in adoptive homes because the organization wouldn’t work with same-sex couples.

This latest case is even more egregious. First, it assumes that religious folks are intolerant and incapable of providing a warm home filled with unconditional love.

Second, Massachusetts - like other lefties states - is declaring that the only approved way to deal with a trans child is to provide “gender affirming care” that often includes sterilization and mutilation.

This fear that parents might not leap for joy upon learning their kid is trans is the justification schools use for not telling parents that their child is changing gender in class.

It’s wrong for schools to keep secrets from parents and it’s wrong to deprive people of faith a chance to foster children.

Frankly, the very notion of the state interfering in highly personal family interactions is chilling. And leaving kids in institutions instead of placing them in caring homes with couples who desperately want to be parents is indescribably heartless.

Hang in there, Mike and Kitty, the high court will set this right.