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Melissa Buck, who adopted four children with her husband from a faith-based agency, speaks to Sen. Judy Emmons, R-Sheridan, after testifying in support of religious objection bills during a committee hearing on April 22, 2015.

(Jonathan Oosting | MLive.com)

LANSING, MI -- A Michigan Senate panel on Wednesday advanced controversial legislation that would allow adoption agencies who contract with the state to deny service to prospective parents based on sincerely held religious beliefs.

Supporters say the three-bill package, approved by the Republican majority in a series of 4-1 votes, would codify existing policy and protect faith-based agencies from any future regulations that may conflict with their religious tenets.

But critics argue the proposal would "write religious discrimination into state law" by specifying that agencies who receive state funding for adoptions can deny service to willing parents, including gays and lesbians.

"I never really signed up to be a gay foster parent. I just signed up to be a parent," said John Palladino of Ann Arbor, who testified beside his teenage son Derrick, whom he adopted eight years ago after first taking him in as a foster child.

Palladino was among a handful of gay parents who spoke out against the bills. The legislation would require faith-based agencies to refer prospective parents to another agency that might work with them, but several parents said the process is already arduous enough.

Susan Grettenberger, a social worker and former Congressional candidate, said same-sex couples are often more willing to take on older, special-needs children of color who are otherwise difficult to place.

Grettenberg, who said she is gay and an active Christian, adopted four such children. She "cringes" to think where they'd be today if she hadn't.

"They can't imagine where they would be either," she said. "We've talked about this. Separated from each other, would they have been moved from foster home to foster home? Would they have run away as their older sister did?"

On the other side of the debate, two heterosexual couples who had adopted children testified in support of the bills and praised the faith-based agencies they worked with.

Melissa Caldwell said she and her husband sought out an agency that "mimicked their beliefs." Their three year-old son James, adopted through Catholic Charities of Shiawasee and Genesee Counties, required several surgeries after he was born underweight and premature.

"Without Catholic Charities we would not be here with him," said Caldwell, who brought her son to the hearing. "He would not be here period."

The Flint-area agency completed 166 adoptions in the past five years and has long partnered with the Michigan Department of Human Services to place foster kids, according to CEO Vicki Schultz,

"Without these bills, agencies such as ours may be asked to perform services which would go against our belief system, ultimately forcing us out of foster care and adoption services," said Schultz.

"We are proud of the services we provide in our communities. Please protect us."

Sen. Bert Johnson of Detroit, the lone Democrat on the panel, proposed a series of amendments that were shot down by the GOP majority. One would have required agencies to explain on their website any circumstances that could lead to denial of prospective parents.

"Why beat around the bush? It's a waste of time to discuss a placement that will never take place," Johnson said, arguing that gay parents should at least have the ability to determine which agencies won't work with them before beginning the process.

The three-bill package, already approved by the House last month, now heads to the floor of the state Senate for further consideration.

Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof likes the bills, according to spokesperson Amber McCann, but he won't rush a floor vote until he is confident in support from Gov. Rick Snyder, who has previously said he is closely reviewing the proposal.

"It is something (Meekhof) really wants to see enacted into law, and so he wants to make sure that that happens," said McCann. "...He wants to make sure that, ultimately, anything that comes to the governor is signed by the governor."

Jonathan Oosting is a Capitol reporter for MLive Media Group. Email him, find him on Facebook or follow him on Twitter.