Ruling In Magazu, et al. v. Massachusetts Department of Children & Families

In this ruling issued on January 4, 2016, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court said that the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF) did not infringe on the right to free exercise of religion when it rejected potential foster parents who stated in their application that in accordance with their religious beliefs, in cases of deliberate disobedience they used corporal punishment (spanking) to discipline their two children. The court said DCF'’s need to protect children in foster care from additional trauma superseded the couple’'s desire to become foster parents while continuing to discipline their natural children in accordance . . .