Catholic Social Services, a faith-based organization that says it is committed to improving the quality of life of people of all faiths and backgrounds, sued the city of Philadelphia on the grounds that the city was violating its right to religious liberty by the suspension of their contract with the city based on the fact that they would not work with same-sex couples.

Not allowing children to be adopted into loving homes based on the sexual orientation of their parents does not seem to align with the vision Catholic Social Services shares on its website.

โ€œCatholic Social Services exists toย transform livesย and bring about a just and compassionate society where every individual is valued, families are healthy and strong, and communities are united in their commitment to the good of all,โ€ the organization shares. โ€œWe envision a worldย touched by Godยดs mercy: where poverty and need are alleviated, and all people share justly in the blessings of creation.โ€

CSS argues that it is not a public agency and therefore are not held to Philadelphiaโ€™s anti-discrimination legislation.

RELATED:ย Congress Republicans are fighting for the right to stop gay couples from adopting

โ€œCSS had admitted to Philadelphiaโ€™s Department of Human Services (DHS) that it discriminated against same-sex couples in two ways,โ€ shares ThinkProgress. โ€œIt would not certify same-sex couples as prospective foster parents, even if they were otherwise eligible under state regulations. It also would refuse to conduct a home study for a same-sex couple applying to be adoptive parents. Incidentally, CSS would provide a home study for an individual looking to adopt, but only if that person was committed to living single.โ€

Based on Fridayโ€™s Federal Court ruling though, CSS will need to stop their discrimination.

U.S. District Court Judge Petrese B. Tucker found that the cityย did not violate the religious liberties of Catholic Social Services (CSS) when it suspended its contract with the agency for foster-care services after discovering that the agency would not work with same-sex couples. Tucker stated, โ€œthat the pool of foster parents and resource caregivers is as diverse and broad as the children in need of foster parents,โ€ and that CSS was violating Philadelphiaโ€™s Fair Practices Ordinance.

Tucker also disapproved of the โ€œclergy letterโ€ that CSS requires. In the testimony of James Amato, CSS Secretary and Executive Vice President, he shared that CSS refuses foster parents who do not provide a โ€œclergy letterโ€ from a minister of any denomination. The letter is an absolute must, ruling out those who are not religious and those who do not practice religion with a minster.

A few exceptions were made with the ruling including that children who had already been placed by CSS would not be removed from their placements and that Philadelphia would still support CSS placing children in homes where their sibling was already been placed.

The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, the anti-LGBTQ+ Christian law firm representing CSS is planning to appeal the ruling.