Legal analyst Andrea M. Picciotti-Bayer is sounding the alarm on the impact of gender ideology on religious freedom, warning that it’s increasingly preventing Christian families from fostering or adopting children. Picciotti-Bayer, a Stanford-educated lawyer and mother of 10, previously served as the legal advisor for the Catholic Association, where she filed amicus briefs on religious freedom and free speech before federal courts and the U.S. Supreme Court. Her writing has been featured in prominent publications such as the Wall Street Journal and National Review, and she frequently provides expert commentary on networks like Fox News and Newsmax. She currently serves as a legal analyst for EWTN and as the head of the Conscience Project, an organization dedicated to highlighting the stories of Americans whose religious liberty is threatened by progressive policies and government actions. In an August 20 commentary National Catholic Register published, Picciotti-Bayer shared multiple alarming stories of potential parents not being permitted to adopt their foster kids due to their “religious beliefs.” One notable case involves Jessica Bates, a widowed mother of five from Oregon who sought to adopt two children. During state certification training, Bates was told she was required to agree to “affirm” a child who might in the future express a “gender identity” different from their biological sex. According to a February 7 commentary by Picciotti-Bayer, Bates was told she must be willing to use her child’s “preferred pronouns,” take the child to pride parades, as well as permit them to undergo medical intervention such as puberty blockers and hormone shots if the child expressed a desire for them.

More From LifeNews: