Posted on 07/15/2005 11:29:25 AM PDT by 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.
Then you should read the Catechism, since it is nothing other than a organized interpretative commentary on the Bible. It's about 600 pages long and quotes the Bible about 2,000 times.
Surely you are aware of the notion of systematic theology?
The Catechism is a handbook of systematic theology.
wow, this thread is still going? as for the troll. There are things that are so ridiculous it is hard not to wonder if they are trolling.
The fact of the matter is this dicussion of what a christian is is far older than you or me. I think it is fair to assume followers of christ are christins even if they have different interpertations of things.
A fair statement.
However, Asphalt is now on record as claiming that the Bible, and not Jesus, is the final authority.
Given that Asphalt doesn't understand why Catholicism is Christian and Mormonism isn't, and now can't understand the difference between worshipping Jesus and worshipping the book He wrote, I think your sensible statement will fall on deaf ears.
No more or less than many Protestants.
jw777
Either you are completely dense, blinded by bigotry or aDUmmie posing as a Freeper (Jaded-check out his date of membership). My guess is that it is a mixture of stupidity and bigotry. You never answered my question - Do you consider Baptists, Methodists, Congregationalists, Anglicans and Lutherans "Christian"? How are Catholics any different? Let me help your feeble little mind get wrapped around this one - There is no difference, you buffoon! All of these denominations, including those evil Papists, are Christians who happen to worship the same Savior (that would be Jesus Christ, BTW) in slightly different ways.
My point is that people are saying that catholics are Christians. Certainly true in some cases, but not as a rule
it would seem the apostle Paul was Jewish
Put it this way- Say you get a word from God that says you should start a Gay right activist group. If you look in the Bible it says that homosexuality is wrong. Would you believe that you are supposed to start a gay rights activist group, or would you, seeing what the Bible says, realize that you had heard wrong/not heard/not heard from God. As I said, God is, of course, above the Bible, but the Bible is the only way to verify what you hear from God.
Given that Asphalt doesn't understand why Catholicism is Christian and Mormonism isn't, and now can't understand the difference between worshipping Jesus and worshipping the book He wrote
I love it when people tell me what I am thinking
It never ceases to amaze me how threads can just go, and go, and go. For instance, the "Unngh" thread recieves many posts a day.
"organized interpretative commentary"
Realize then that, not to say it is bad, you are basing beliefs purely on interpretations of scripture.
Um. Okay. And this has what to do with anything?
So unless he shows complete knowledge of the catholic religion he is lying if he says he was brought up catholic?
Yeah....it's already happened and we got Jimmy Carter!
go-dubya-04. You will not hear from me again after this post. FIND IN ANY POST OF MINE THAT I HAVE SAID THAT CATHOLICS ARE NOT CHRISTIANS. Since you will not find that, because I have not said that, answering your question would be moot! Also, since the peace that surpasses all understanding is apparently not with you, you are free to go insult someone who will actually fall victim to your hatred, bigotry and lies. Jesus said, I am the way, the truth and the light. You sir, or madame, are lying right here on this site. Shame on you!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
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