Hollywood Actress Takes Bold Stand, Defends Christians Reportedly Cut From Foster Care Over Biblical Beliefs
“This action not only violates our constitutional rights but also jeopardizes the well-being of children in dire need of safe, loving homes,” Jen Lilley said.
Actress Jen Lilley is a passionate advocate for adoption and foster care who recently shared her powerful and multifaceted journey with CBN News.
“The journey for me started as a child,” Lilley said. “My parents were kind of what I call unofficial foster parents. My dad was a judge and my mom was a director of a women and children’s charity.”
Because of these roles, the family couldn’t legally foster children, but that preclusion didn’t “stop them from having compassion,” she said.
“Our home was kind of a rotating door at times for people that maybe just needed help transitioning and bridging in their life,” she said. “So, the idea of a child living in my home who wasn’t in my immediate family was not scary to me.”
Lilley Speaks Out
Lilley spoke out against Vermont reportedly blocking Christian families from adopting over their biblical beliefs — a story that made headlines last year after two families filed a lawsuit.
At the time, the actress warned the decision by Vermont’s Department for Children and Family Services to ax two families’ licenses was a constitutional violation.
“This action not only violates our constitutional rights but also jeopardizes the well-being of children in dire need of safe, loving homes,” she said. “The government is deciding that it’s safer for a child to remain in a dangerous and potentially life-threatening situation than to live in a home with Christian beliefs? Make it make sense.”
In a recent interview with CBN News, Lilley revealed a conversation she had with the Vermont governor’s office last year — a discussion she wanted to pursue to better understand the issues on the table. Lilley approached the discussion fairly and with an open mind to understand the state’s position.
“I was like … ‘I just believe that there’s a seat at the table for everybody and … I think that, as long as your home is safe — truly safe — and is providing love, safety, and stability for these children, you should have a seat at that table,’” Lilley said, noting the goal of foster care isn’t separation from biological parents.
Instead, she said, the ultimate aspiration is to reunite children with their parents.
Read the rest of the story on CBN’s Faithwire.