Posted on 07/22/2005 6:43:28 PM PDT by wagglebee
A local branch of a Christian child-adoption agency has decided to change its policy and serve Catholic families.
The board of directors for Bethany Christian Services of Mississippi voted unanimously Tuesday to reverse course after Robert and Sandy Steadman were rejected because of their Catholic faith.
"We are pleased that Bethany listened to our concerns and made the change to work with Catholic families," said Robert Steadman. "Bethany does admirable work and we can now be supportive of this pro-life ministry."
Sandy Steadman said the rejection especially hurt because Bethany receives money from the sale of Choose Life license plates, which are purchased by many Catholics.
"If it's OK to accept our money, it should be OK to open your home to us as a family," she said prior to Bethany Mississippi's change of policy, according to the Associated Press.
After learning of the change, she said, "This decision by Bethany speaks volumes. We hope and pray this unites Christians."
Glenn DeMots, president and CEO of Bethany Christian Services, said the board in Mississippi is now consistent with the group's national practice.
The national board, in Grand Rapids, Mich., voted the same day to affirm that all families in agreement with the group's statement of faith, including Catholic families, are eligible to adopt.
"We are sorry for offending families and all partners of Bethany and regret any pain and hurt caused by this issue," said DeMots.
In a July 8 letter to the Steadmans rejecting their application, Bethany Mississippi director Karen Stewart wrote, "It has been our understanding that Catholicism does not agree with our statement of faith. 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."
Robert Steadman had said his priest believed the faith statement did not conflict with Catholic teaching.
The statement says, in part, "As the Savior, Jesus takes away the sins of the world. 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."
Bethany's national office, founded in 1944, says more than 16 percent of its adoptions in 2004 were with Catholic families.
The group calls itself a "Christ-centered, not-for-profit, pro-life, adoption and family services agency with over 75 locations in 32 states and ministries in 15 other countries."
In 2004, Bethany placed 1,840 children and served more than 10,000 children through other ministries.
And now after everyone knows they are a bunch of bigots, they have decided to keep their Jack Chick style beliefs to themselves.
Anti-Catholic adoption agency ping.
No kidding...
When almost everyone professed one brand or other of Christianity, it was easy to get caught up in the things that separate us.
But there are bigger issues at stake, we will either learn to recognize who our friends are, and stand with them, or see ourselves defeated unnecessarily. When you are involved in important work, your friend is the guy at your side helping you. So treat him like a friend. Save the arguments for late-night coffee, after the work is done.
If we explore their family trees, we'll find one Irish-beater or two as ancestors...
Given the fact that they are in Mississippi, we are likely to find some cross burners too.
A good case of being very wrong and very stupid.
BTW, are there that many good homes out there for children needing a home that they can exclude Catholics?
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