Barrett, Top Court Weigh Religion Case That May Snub Gay Couples

U.S. Supreme Court conservatives including new Justice Amy Coney Barrett weighed bolstering religious rights in a case that could let a Catholic charity refuse to work with same-sex couples when helping to place foster children in Philadelphia.

Hearing arguments Wednesday even as the nation tried to sort out the results of the presidential election, the court’s strengthened conservative wing questioned Philadelphia’s effort to enforce its anti-discrimination requirements in contracts with the private agencies that screen potential foster families.

The case promises an early indication of how aggressive the court will be in protecting religious freedoms -- and limiting gay rights ...