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.
And don't misrepresent...it's not becoming. I never dissed Mary.
Well, okay. But if you spoke about my mother in the tone in which you are speaking about Jesus' Mother, I'd be pretty insulted.
"Of course not. You can't be a Christian unless you own a copy of The Prayer of Jabez or have been personally healed by Benny Hinn."
Don't forget about the rattlesnake handling.
You go to the Lutherans to learn about Catholic belief? Do you also go to the Chevy dealership to learn about Ford automobiles, or to Democratic party headquarters to learn about the Republican platform?
explain "thinking she's better than she was"?
The Catechism of the Catholic Church contains of all the Church's dogmatic teachings, plus commentary on those teachings.
Oh yes, they do indeed! I'll have to post more on this later. Got to get back to work.
Hey, other Catholic folk, feel free to jump in here and answer Warren's question.
The books of the Apocrypha, Jewish in origin, were not considered Scripture by any rabbinical authority. The Jews themselves have never viewed the books as inspired.
Thus, their rejection as Holy Scripture by Protestants.
Mary is worshipped, but not adored.
Nice of you to assume I have no knowledge of these matters. Actually, I do. But why should I answer your questions when you did not address the question I put to you originally. LOL. Get real.
Your mother may be a nice lady, but if people called her "the Queen of Heaven" I would be just as cynical as I am when Mary is addressed this way.
I bet you go to Catholics to learn what non-Catholic Christians believe, huh?
Well, he's only removed from 666 by 111.....
This:
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.
reminds me of, what else, a joke (soon I'll run out of denominations to offend).
A man dies and meets St. Peter at the pearly gates. Peter is giving the man a tour of heaven. As they approach a group of people huddled together, Peter tells the man to tip-toe and be very quiet.
"Why?", the man asks.
Peter says, "They're Church of Christ - they think they're the only ones here..."
When Catholics say any prayer in reference of Mary, we say, "Pray for Us."
Any of the Holy Trinity, we say, "Have Mercy on us."
See the difference?
I wrote my PhD disseration on saints and relics and there is nothing incongrous about this.
"1) His claim that he was spiritually anointed by touching the grave of Aimee Semple McPherson and his further claim that he returns to that grave regularly to be reanointed. Even Catholics, who believe that saints' relics are holy, would find this a strange claim."
In fact the cult of relics grew out of beliefs that souls of saints hovered near their tombs and were available for intercession there.
2 examples:
Protestants agree that Mary was "blessed", but this doesn't mean she was sinless.
Protestants believe that Mary will go to Heaven, but "Queen of Heaven"? Way over the line.
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