Illinois legislators are considering a bill to allow religious-based adoption services to deny gay couples from fostering or adopting kids.

Sen. Dave Koehler, D-Peoria, said in order to gather enough votes to pass civil unions, he promised to protect religious groups.

“No group should have to go against what its religious principles were and that included organizations that were involved in adoption,” Koehler said.

Some religious organizations that run adoption services receive some public funding. Opponents say if Catholic Charities takes state dollars, it should be barred from picking out parents based on sexual orientation. The measure is expected to come up for a vote in the state Senate this week.