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.
Oh boy. You really need to educate yourself about early Church history and late antiquity. You are embarrassing yourself here. I am going to be polite (for a change) and not say anything more.
It ususally does, but even deeper, it's a rejection of the full doctrine of the communion of the saints.
But 'dems some pretty strong words...
It's post #2 that offended me.
Intoduce me to a Roman Catholic who believes that Mary is worshipped. I dare you; I double-dare you!
I understand, and it's a guess at best. The post does, however, fit the M.O. of the fake ex-Catholic.
Do you think the bible fell from heaven? Do you know that the Church gave you the bible and preserved it for you throughout the centuries? Do you know that the bible you have been reading for years is missing old testament books -- authentic books of the bible that Martin Luther removed because they contradicted his heresy? Do you believe in the apostolic succession? Do you understand the concept of Tradition? Do you think Jesus will appreciate you dissing his Mother?
#155 took it down a couple of additional notches!
I am a Baptist and have heard this joke many times before. I can't ever remember hearing this from anyone other than a Baptist before. It is one of my father-in-law's favorites, and he is a Baptist pastor.
There are a lot of jokes out there about Baptists, and I bet Baptists wrote most of them.
Any church that doesn't laugh at itself is probably a cult.
I know - just like every Atheist I've ever debated online had "read the Bible cover to cover". after about the 4th one, I decided that this was a debating tactic and not a truth. Shoot, most Chrstians don't bother to read the Bible cover to cover. I have, quite a few times, and I can tell you that Numbers is not for the faint of heart, and Ezekiel is best read listening to Pink Floyd!
And don't misrepresent...it's not becoming. I never dissed Mary.
Catholic Charities and the Diocese of Tulsa adoption services are probably two different organizations. Certainly the diocese can choose to help Catholics primarily. Catholic Charities is a different story given that they often accept public money.
I believe that in all matters of faith and life, the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the final authority. The Scriptures point us with full reliability to Jesus, God’s Son. The Scriptures tell us that we receive forgiveness of sins by faith in Jesus Christ, and that God provides salvation by grace alone for those who repent and believe.
I believe that forgiveness comes through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, who was made flesh, took our place in death, rose from the dead, and is now in glory with the Father interceding and praying for His people.
From www.lcms.org - The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod website
1. The authority of Scripture.
Lutherans believe that Scripture alone has authority to determine doctrine; the Roman Catholic Church gives this authority also to the pope, the church, and certain traditions of the church.
2. The doctrine of justification.
Lutherans believe that a person is saved by God's grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. The Roman Catholic Church, while at times using similar language, still officially holds that faith, in order to save, must be accompanied by (or "infused with") some "work" or "love" active within a Christian.
3. The authority of the pope.
Unlike the Roman Catholic Church, Lutherans do not believe that the office of the papacy as such has any divine authority, or that Christians need to submit to the Pope's authority to be "true" members of the visible church.
4. Differences remain about both the number and the nature of the sacraments.
Lutherans believe that Christ's body and blood are truly present in the Lord's Supper, but they do not believe, with Catholics, that the bread and wine, are permanently "changed into" Christ's body and blood [transubstantiation].
5. Differences remain about the role of Mary and the saints.
Unlike Catholics, Lutherans do not believe it is proper or Scriptural to offer prayers to saints or to view Mary as in any sense a "mediator" between God and human beings.
While Lutherans believe that any doctrinal error has the potential to distort or deny Scripture's teaching regarding salvation, we also believe that anyone (regardless of denominational affiliation) who truly believes in Jesus Christ as Savior will be saved.
Incidentally, the Lutheran Church still officially holds that the Pope is an anti-Christ, which I find quite interesting. Most people when they hear "anti-Christ" think Damien and 666, when in fact it is simply someone or something that leads a person away from Christ; not THE anti-Christ.
Being Lutheran I don't know the ins and outs of Catholicism so I rely on those who are supposed to be educated in such areas to get my information from (one can't know everything). And, in general, have to trust the Lutheran Church to "get it right". It seems to me though, from the above information from the Lutheran Church, that Catholicism doesn't meet the Statement of Faith from the adoption agency. While I agree that Catholics are Christians (even though here in the South we do ask Catholic or Christian?), I also agree that a private agency can use any criteria they want to to screen prospective parents/customers. I think the issue with the agency receiving money from license plates is separate. I do take issue with some Catholics (and yes I've been told this straight from a supposed Catholic's mouth) that I will not be saved because I don't hold to the Catholic beliefs.
I said: according to Catholic dogma Mary is a co-redemptrix"...
You said: This is not a true statement. It is not dogma and the Church does not teach it as dogma nor express it as dogma.
I understand that if the teaching is not in the Catholic Catechism it is not dogma? If so then I stand corrected.
There is considerable discussion among the catholic clergy regarding Mary which is where my misconception originated.
Jesus chose Mary to give Him human flesh in order to save our souls.... so if she is good enough for Jesus she is good enough for me.
I have a question so please forgive my ignorance on this biased crap against Catholics. What do some people have against Catholics?
Strong and true.
there are a number of individuals on FR who claim to have been raised Catholic but who, like mhuye, make statements about Catholicism that no cradle catholic would ever make.
Fact: if you ask 99% of practicing, Mass-going Catholics if Mary is a "Co-Redemptrix" they'll say "What does that mean?"
You'll find the term nowhere in the Catechisms, in no Mass text, in no CCD class, etc.
It's just not a current or relevant topic to the vast majority of Catholics and it plays no part in their spiritual life.
In 1990, I got one of those "read the Bible in a year" schedules and decided to follow it. Before long, I fell behind, and to catch up I had to read the entire book of Numbers in one day. I managed to do it, but it took most of the day.
I became (and remain) convinced that Numbers is one of the richest and most powerful books in the Bible.
I have no doubt that a pastor could preach a sermon from Numbers every Sunday for his career and never run out of ideas.
Protestants also believe she's good enough, obviously. However, they won't go over the line in thinking she's better than she was. Then you're getting into weirdness.
I thought the canons were compiled by two seperate church committees. I had no idea Luther had anything to do with it. i must do some study...
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