Christian Adoption Agency Nixes Catholics

AP ^ | 07/15/05

[nypokerface]

JACKSON, Miss. - A Christian adoption agency that receives money from Choose Life license plate fees said it does not place children with Roman Catholic couples because their religion conflicts with the agency's "Statement of Faith."

Bethany Christian Services stated the policy in a letter to a Jackson couple this month, and another Mississippi couple said they were rejected for the same reason last year.

"It has been our understanding that Catholicism does not agree with our Statement of Faith," Bethany director Karen Stewart wrote. "Our practice to not accept applications from Catholics was an effort to be good stewards of an adoptive applicant's time, money and emotional energy."

Sandy and Robert Steadman, who learned of Bethany's decision in a July 8 letter, said their priest told them the faith statement did not conflict with Catholic teaching.

Loria Williams of nearby Ridgeland said she and her husband, Wes, had a similar experience when they started to pursue an adoption in September 2004.

"I can't believe an agency that's nationwide would act like this," Loria Williams said. "There was an agency who was Christian based but wasn't willing to help people across the board."

The agency is based in Grand Rapids, Mich., and has offices in 30 states, including three in Mississippi. Its Web site does not refer to any specific branch of Christianity.

Stewart told the Jackson Clarion-Ledger that the board will review its policy, but she didn't specify which aspects will be addressed.

The Web site says all Bethany staff and adoptive applicants personally agree with the faith statement, which describes belief in the Christian Church and the Scripture.

"As the Savior, Jesus takes away the sins of the world," the statement says in part. "Jesus is the one in whom we are called to put our hope, our only hope for forgiveness of sin and for reconciliation with God and with one another."

Sandy Steadman said she was hurt and disappointed that Bethany received funds from the Choose Life car license plates. "I know of a lot of Catholics who get those tags," she said.

She added: "If it's OK to accept our money, it should be OK to open your home to us as a family."

Bethany is one of 24 adoption and pregnancy counseling centers in Mississippi that receives money from the sale of Choose Life tags, a special plate that motorists can obtain with an extra fee.

Of $244,000 generated by the sale of the tags in 2004, Bethany received $7,053, said Geraldine Gray, treasurer of Choose Life Mississippi, which distributes the money.

"It is troubling to me if they are discriminating based on only the Catholics," Gray said.

[jw777]

Exactly. I simply was talking about the WORDS! Please, bump me off this thread. It has gone WAY to far.

[Campion]

When you come out of a group, you may feel you have authority to speak on some of the issues discussed in that group

That way you can demonstrate to observers that you are obsessed with it and have an ongoing need to have your decisions validated in the eyes of others.

I know plenty of ex-Protestant Catholics. None of them seem to feel a need to paint themselves as authorities on Protestant belief, whether in front of Catholics or Protestants -- even though some of them legitimately could claim to be.

[what's up]

Sorry you're offended by an adjective. However, I will continue to use it since the Marian doctrines led me astray.

"Weird" is actually the least objectionable adjective I could find.

[GoLightly]

Rome has a pope for the masses, and the masses (Protestants) have all become popes.

I understand your point & have seen what you mean. The essence of the Western faiths are not as you say they are, though I understand why you would draw the conclusion you have drawn. We're not very good at following the teachings.

The former interprets scripture alone, tells others what to do, and excommunicates all those that disagree.

Excommunication is not about excluding people. It is an instructional action, to get the individual to repent & to return to the fold.

The latter interprets scripture alone, lives according to that interpretation, and considers all others outside that belief as unsaved (same as excommunicated).

Determination about whether or not another is saved is beyond our reach. It is not our place to even try to determine that, for that is within God's power, not man's.

[Warren_Piece]

Our former minister wanted to write a book about all he had learned in his years in the ministry, entitled Never Have a Chile Supper on Saturday Night.

[Pyro7480]

When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained (John 20: 22-23).

[exnavychick]

Our former minister wanted to write a book about all he had learned in his years in the ministry, entitled "Never Have a Chile Supper on Saturday Night".

LOL! That's too funny. :)

[what's up]

That way you can demonstrate to observers that you are obsessed with it

You can if you want...or you can have the occasional Mary debate :)

[InterestedQuestioner]

I'm on record here as opposing those who say that Catholics are not Christians. like I've said, confess your sins, call Jesus Lord, and you're invited to the party!
However, I do have a question of my Catholic brothers and sisters, that goes to an issue deeper than the "Mary" thing.

It is my understanding that the most basic rift between the Catholic and Protestant churches concerns the "tearing of the veil of the Temple", which was symbolicly saying that regular Joes like me were no longer seperated from the Father. (Most) Protestants believe that Jesus, through the atonement, took away the need for ANY intercessor: a priest, Mary, certain prayers, The Pope, Creflo Dollar, Benny Hinn, Jabez Bracelets - we can go DIRECTLY to the Father and ask forgiveness and his blessings in our life. We can appear before him daily without ANYONE's help.

The Catholic Church, correct me if I'm wrong, believes extensively in intercession. Isn't this really what the big rift is?


A very good post, and a great question. Certainly, we all pray directly to God, however, you also ask your friends to pray for you. As scripture says, "the prayer of the righteous man availeth much." (Hope I am remembering that correctly.) Also, see Revelation, Rev 5:8

"The Lamb came forward to take the sroll from the right hand of the One sitting on the throne, and when he took it, the four living creatures fell prostrate before him, and with them the twenty-four elders; each one of them holding a golden bowl full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints."

In this case, the intercessions of the saints are described as incence being offered to God. Some may object that people are dead, and hence they cannot pray for us, but remember, "I AM the God of Abraham..... therefore God is the God of the living, and not the God of the dead."

Notice, too, that often times in scripture, people do not go directly to Jesus, but ask one of the Apostles or disciples for assistance. A good example is the wedding feast at Cana, where folks approach Mary for Jesus' help. Also, note that Mary tells them: "Do what he says." I read this to indicate that Mary does not have an agenda apart from the mission of Christ.

I tend to read sincere Christians (please read as ALL sincere Christians) into the Gospel of John as the Faithful disciple, to whom Jesus entrusts as sons of Mary just before he dies on the cross. "Woman, behold, I give you your son." As such, I understand that she intercedes for Christians as her children.

[MoefromMs]

Yes but the Priest is acting on the authority given by Christ...whatever sins ye retain are retained, and whatever sins ye forgive are forgiven. I'ts the same concept as baptism. the Priest or Preacher is performing the Baptism under the authority given by Christ.

[lawdave]

The Catholic Church, correct me if I'm wrong, believes extensively in intercession

I will take a humble stab at addressing your statement. As a Catholic, I believe that Jesus set up certain institutions and sacramants that he wanted. For instance, he gave the apostles the power to forgive sin. Why would he do this if he did not intend then to use that faculty? He instituted the Eucharist at the Last Supper so that he could be physically present to us here on Earth.

He also created the Church, which is his body. Paul talks repeatedly about the fact that the body must act through its parts, i.e. the believers. Further, the Church is a community and all of us both in heaven and on earth are part of it. Revelations shows that the saints in heaven are aware of the events on earth. When we ask them to intercede on our behalf we are simply asking our brothers and sisters in Christ for their prayers.

All of these things are supported by Scripture in my Catholic opinion. Through them God and Jesus are immediate and physically present in our lives and we are part of the Kingdom along with our brothers and sisters both on earth and in heaven. To me it shows a richness in Catholic theology that is missing in the "I can go straight to Jesus" theology.

[InterestedQuestioner]

Good lookin' Bunch!

[SaintDismas]

As someone pointed out earlier, the most important theological rift between most Protestants and Catholics/Orthodox is on the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist."

And that to me is the reason #1 over all others while I could never ever leave the Catholic Church. I must say that while I love all Christians for believing in Christ, I just cannot imagine how hurtful it would be to never be able to actually approach the Lord Himself when I go to Mass every Sunday. Our Mass centers around the Eucharist, that is all, nothing else even really matters, nothing. The Eucharist is front and center, THE REASON for our service. It recalls every single time we hear it the passion and death of our Lord. Yes, I do believe in my heart of hearts that this IS THE LORD. To not believe this would kill me. He is here, IN THE FLESH, and then dwells in me. I wish with all my heart that our Protestant brothers would come over to this one thing, its so sad for me.

[pa mom]

Fact: if you ask 99% of practicing, Mass-going Catholics if Mary is a "Co-Redemptrix" they'll say "What does that mean?"

LOL! I didn't want to admit I had never heard of Mary as Co Redemptrix! I actually thought it sounded kind of dirty, too.

[dangus]

Luther was debating at Worms with a Catholic bishop over whether or not there existed purgatory, atonement and anything else beneficial to salvation besides faith. The Bishop -- I forget his name -- showed him evidence for these doctrines in Revelations, Hebrews, James, Wisdom, 2nd Maccabees, Daniel, and 1 Peter.

Luther then struck seven old testament books, seven new testament books, and portions of two more old testament books from the bible, declaring he could not believe in such a God, and justifying the action by saying that there had been some dissent in the early church as to whether those books constituted scripture.

The argument for the New Testament books was so weak, that within his lifetime they were added back. But since the Old Testament canon had never been infallibly defined, he had more success in striking those books, which you call "apocrypha."

That is really a poor name, since the name also applies to several books which no-one claims to be in the bible.

(Making it even more confusing is the fact that for centuries, some churches used 1 & 2 Esdras [a.k.a. as Ezra and Nehemiah] whereas others used 3 Esdras, a shortened version; and some ancient churches -- and even some modern Eastern churches -- include 3 Maccabees. The Council of Trent merely included all the books which had been unanimously regarded as scripture, and which were used in liturgy. Nothing about the Council of Trent denies the inspired origin of 3 Esdras or 3 Maccabees, nor, to my knowledge, does any other Catholic doctrine. The Church merely does not oblige Catholics to defend the books as necessarily inspired.)

[InterestedQuestioner]

Yes, Paul's analogy about the body members is appropriate. We all bring something useful to the body. Of course, we Methodists are the stomach ;)

LOL!

[dangus]

Aw shucks, I didn't see that, before I posted mine (something like 335).

Some Catholics, particularly ones in France, have been known to adore the Marion I posted... but it's not a sanctionned practice. (She is French, after all).

[old and tired]

I certainly hope this isn't blanket policy -- my husband and I are supposed to be at the July 25th meeting in Lancaster, PA, to see about international adoption.

It isn't. We're Catholic and we've got several grandkids through Bethany. Bethany is definitely run by Evangelical Christians, but they are also adoption professionals who are very good at what they do. They want kids adopted.

Someone from the local Bethany office - (probably Jenkintown or Ft. Washington, I'm not sure) spoke at a Catholic Church in Willow Grove a year or so ago to try to recruit new adoptive parents. Bethany is the biggest adoption agency around. Check out some nearby parish schools. You're bound to see some little girls from China. Most likely, they're from Bethany. Bethany's China program runs like clockwork.

[GipperGal]

Ping for interesting thread!

[GipperGal]

No offense, but you might want to change your analogy. Unless, of course, you are a "former Grand Duchess" or royal.

Very well, "former" Grand Duchess.

BTW, I will forgive you this once for not address me as "Your Imperial Highness". But please don't let this happen again.