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.
>> Sorry, I do think the crowning of Mary is weird.<<
Well I think that your breath smells.
Since neither one of us can prove with facts that each is correct how about if you just drop the "weird" stuff.
Be an adult.
That is doubly obscene.
'Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes-Benz. My friends all drive Porches. I must make amends..."
That was very interesting! My goodness, respond to a post about adoption, get theological education! I love FR...
"Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners..."
It's all about the wedding feast at Canaan when the Son would not refuse his Mother's request.
Non-Catholics will never understand our relationship with The Blessed Mother so why bother...
Hats off to you.
As Revelation is chock full of symbolism, I would never accept as a doctrine one based on one verse from the book.
As far as interpretation, I believe the woman is the body of believers which has been in existence since the beginning and from which Christ's line is entwined. The 12 stars (probably symbolizing the Jews...12 tribes) was persecuted but still brought forth the savior.
The 12 tribes are mentioned in different ways over and over in Revelation. This is another example.
this I find fascinating. "Protestants believe that Mary will go to Heaven, but "Queen of Heaven"? Way over the line." Line? What line? And if there is a line of some kind who drew it? Not you or me. God created heaven the way he wants it to be. It is up to us to understand that and not be drawing lines.
It's kind of a tricky semantic thing (I am a Traditional Catholic and most definitely pray to Our Mother, Mary, but don't consider her anything like a deity. However, she, like any good mother, is willing to help her children achieve their worthy goals.)
In the following definition of worship, #1 would certainly not apply to the way Catholics view Our Mother, but #2 might, depending on how you use "adoring".
v. wor·shiped, or wor·shipped wor·ship·ing, or wor·ship·ping wor·ships or wor·ships
v. tr.
1. To honor and love as a deity.
2. To regard with ardent or adoring esteem or devotion.
Adore can be synonomous with revere. I have no problem with the "deepest respect, deference, and esteem". That correctly describes how I feel about Our Mother.
re·vere1 Audio pronunciation of "revere" ( P )
Pronunciation Key (r-vîr)
tr.v. re·vered, re·ver·ing, re·veres
To regard with awe, deference, and devotion.
[French révérer, from Old French reverer, from Latin reverr : re-, re- + verr, to respect; see wer-3 in Indo-European Roots.]
Synonyms: revere, 1worship, venerate, adore, idolize
These verbs mean to regard with the deepest respect, deference, and esteem. Revere suggests awe coupled with profound honor: “At least one third of the population... reveres every sort of holy man” (Rudyard Kipling). Worship implies reverent love and homage rendered to God or a god: The ancient Egyptians worshiped a number of gods. In a more general sense worship connotes an often uncritical devotion: “She had worshiped intellect” (Charles Kingsley). Venerate connotes reverence accorded by virtue, especially of dignity or age: “I venerate the memory of my grandfather” (Horace Walpole). To adore is to worship with deep, often rapturous love: The students adored their caring teacher. Idolize implies worship like that accorded an object of religious devotion: He idolizes his wife.
And here in the Northeast, it's not uncommon to hear someone ask, "Are you a Catholic?" when they really mean "Are you a Christian?" because Catholics are so dominant in some areas and let's just say that my mother is not burried in a Catholic cemetary because my father wouldn't agree to raise me Catholic, her father is burried in a steel vault in a Catholic cemetary because he converted on his deathbed from being a Lutheran, and my paternal grandmother's parents were burried in seperate cemetaries after being married for over 50 years because one was Catholic and the other was Protestant. I'm not trying to bash Catholics here but I'm simply trying to point out that Catholics aren't any more open-minded about Protestants when they are in the driver's seat. I think it's silly either way.
Yours is based on....?
Who's the child here?
Some Protestant faiths have objections to Catholics 'praying' to Mary instead of Jesus, or to shrines. Personally, even thoughn I'm not Catholic, I believe Catholics are Christian.
I thought that was the reason for the ping.
It's getting late and I am tired. :0)
Blessed Mary is the Mother of the Davidic King, the Messiah. That makes her the Queen Mother. And as he is King of Heaven and Earth and there is no division between his being man and God, she is mother of the King of heaven and earth and is acknowledged for eternity as the Queen Mother, the Queen of heaven and earth according to the pattern of the Davidic kingdom and so shall it be to the ages of ages to the glory of the Father. Amen.
>>Remember, if you ask someone to pray for you, it means that you think that they are actually God.<<
(Awwww, I just got Ranch Dressing up my nose!)
That about sums it up.
I guess "cultural diversity" does not include anything to do with religion, at least as it is presented in that carefully-crafted statement. Sometimes it is that which is not said that speaks volumes.
Yeah, I saw that as a cover story in Time magazine around that time. It mentioned that the Hierarchy of the Church wasn't very receptive to it. All in all, it bordered on being a fringe element (according to the article, that is).
Did you know that Jesuit priests led a revolt to stop it all very quietly?
Guess that was thwarted by the article in Time, eh?
Hail Mary, pray for our sinners, ... Do you really think Mary is in heaven praying for sinners?
Is it acceptable to ask friends, family, and loved ones to pray for you, yes or no?
Do Roman Catholics believe that the saints (including Mary) are "alive in Christ," yes or no?
Given that the answer to both of the above is "yes," it is clear that the Roman Catholics don't differentiate between asking for prayers hear on Earth and from those who have passed into the next life. One could even say that this is an expression of their faith in the everlasting life that is within Christ.
I realize that some would say "But she's dead!" However, that's what I'd expect to hear from the heathen or the atheist who cannot understand what "alive in Christ" means.
Sorry, It's in your prayers, it's in your cathechism, it's all over.
Uh, sorry chum, but I'm not a Roman Catholic. I'll ping a few of the regular Roman Catholic posters if you need verification of that fact.
So tell me, do you think they'd object so strenuously to an Episcopalian couple adopting, what with that homosexual Biship and the one in New Jersey who refuted the Resurrection?
>>Well, my belief is based on doctrines that are taught<<
LOL!
Ditto!!
We disagree, that is no reason to continue to insult the person who asked you to stop insulting their religious beliefs.
That is what adults do.
Gee, I always thought it was Jesus Christ who had started Christianity.
No, I ignored the poster who did make the comments. You were clear where you stand and it is appreciated.
>>Uh, sorry chum, but I'm not a Roman Catholic. I'll ping a few of the regular Roman Catholic posters if you need verification of that fact.<<
You're the best!
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