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.
Whereby we get the name "CHRISTIAN" adoption agency. Not Catholic, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim.
Putting their obsession with their own personally cherished heresies above Christian cooperation in the war against abortion.
Um...Catholics ARE Christians.
Oh, so Catholics aren't Christians?
Catholics are Christians, you lunatic.
I bet Catholic adoption agencies receive funds also...although I doubt the Catholics descriminate against other Christians.
As a Roman Catholic, I'm not supposed to get offended with such a question.
Fortunately, more and more Protestants are realizing that they are not the only Christians. Christianity has tree main branches, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Protestant.
If so, I suggest you do some reading up on things.
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.
Wow. You have a lot of anger against non-Cathoilc Christians.
Will they make an exception if a Catholic promises to name their kid "Skeeter" or "Bubba"? Unfriggin-believable.
LOL!
Uh, you are kidding right? Every branch of Christianity that exists today as an organized religion traces itself directly back to Catholicism. You are ignorant if you think Catholicism isn't Christianity.
Sounds like legalism to me.
Most agencies/countries won't let you adopt if you're too old. (35 is usually the cutoff).
I do recall a religious test for one agency - and I think (don't quote me on this) it was Catholic Charities. I believe they only accepted Catholic prospective parents. But please don't take this as gospel, it's been many years. I'll look it up and post it, if I can find it.
Not really. I get along quite famously with normal people.
Venal "name it and claim it" individuals who tell me I have no relationship with my Lord and Savior do tend get under my skin, though.
Catholics most certainly are Christians. You realize that other denominations broke off from the Catholic Church, right? Was Martin Luther not Christian until the Reformation? I don't understand your position.
I am afraid that these ignorant people are the ones who give Christians a bad name. They are bigots without even taking the time to understand what they are talking about.
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