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At first blush, the Wilsons — seeking to adopt a baby boy — seemed to be well suited for parenhood. They were a devoted, idealistic young couple, with high standards of morality. But there was a problem. They did not believe in a Supreme Being. Was this grounds for disqualifying them as adoptive parents? After a court hearing, the judge said it was not and granted the adoption. It would be unconstitutional, he said, for the state to require a belief in God in order.to adopt a child. “The First Amendment not only requires the state to be neutral between various religions,” added the judge, “but between religion and non-religion as well.” Most courts would agree that a belief in God is not essential. Nevertheless, religious attitudes may carry at least some weight in the determination of parental fitness. Thus, in another case, a court ruled in favor of adoptive parents (and against the child’s own father) partly because of the religious atmosphere of their home. As one judge put it:
“Religion and morality are inextricably interwoven in the lives of most people in this
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