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 why isn't it called the Catholic Adoption agency"
That makes no sense. Christian INCLUDES Catholic. Did you ever do Venn diagrams in school? The little Catholic circle is ENTIRELY within the big Christian one.
Thanks, I somehow thought you ever way out there on this obviously false accusation. Do You Forgive me?
"Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, grant us peace."
We pray this at every mass. We hear sermons on Christ's death in our place. We believe that our salvation comes through Jesus. "For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he was born of the Virgin Mary and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered died and was buried. On the third day he rose again...."
I have come across so many evangelicals who think we do not know Christ, and why he died, and that he is our salvation! Now they may not hold with confession, or the real presence in the sacraments, or asking saints to intercede for us, but to say we are not Christian... I don't get it.
Mrs VS
I can't help but wonder if there is more to this story....the media would love to drive a wedge through The Church.
This does raise the question as to whether or not Catholic Charities receives public money to support their adoption services. If they don't, it's nobody's business but their.
I would not that the Criteria from the Roman Catholics seems nire clearly stated than the vague allegation that Catholics are "outside" the other agencies "statement of faith."
When I used the word "branch," I was not refering to denominations, sects or movements. The Protestant branch was many sub-branches.
I think Christ did that....
So would Satan.
Catholics ARE Christians.
Ummm... No. Jesus Christ is the Lord of heaven and earth. He is the author and finisher of our faith, not men. He created us, He redeemed us, He delivers us and He will make His home among us.
(1) This is not Catholic dogma or even close to being Catholic dogma. It is a concept popular among certain Catholic theologians.
For future reference, anything that is not explicitly stated in the Catechism of the Catholic Church is not Catholic dogma.
(2) The concept means not that Mary herself redeems anyone but that Jesus uses her as an assistant (like a pilot uses a co-pilot) in His redeeming work and that He distributes grace through her.
Any Catholics out there wish to express their understanding of salvation and the position that Mary plays in that process?
mary's role in salvation can be summed up very succinctly: she gave birth to the Savior and she was the first person directly saved by Jesus.
The disciples of Jesus created what would become the Catholic Church. All other denominations broke off from there.
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."
I can see the "problem" right here. This Christian agency, like so many not in the Anglican communion, does not understand the Communion of the Saints or the Rosary. Thus, their faith statement which includes ". . .Jesus is the one in whom we..." reflects their belief that, (in my words as a former baptist), Jesus is the only one a Christian is "supposed" to pray to.
Many "Christians" believe "Catholics" pray to the Virgin Mary for the forgiveness of sins..thus they can not be saved..I know that sounds "uppity" of them, and, well, it is.
Catholicism is not well understood by the uninitiated. Heck! I'm initiated, and still only understand 1/2 of it.
Lots of ignorance there, apparently.
Of course they don't. My point was that jw777, and not all Protestants in general, is the kind of individual who would think that.
Empirically, there are 100 Protestant critics of Benny Hinn for every one of his supporters.
Here is the big test... which "branch" was founded by Jesus Christ?
Catholic Charities is Catholic enough for this Catholic. Not that I object to their helping everyone, it's that they help without trying hard enough to teach Catholic values, and they employ workers who are at odds with the Church. I think Bethany is wrong to think Catholics are not Christian, but they are very right to place children with Christian parents.
Mrs VS
Some undoubtedly are, but not all. Same with the orthodox, some Anglicans, some baptists, some presybterians, etc. Some aren't in all of the above too. It is a matter of the heart, not a set of religious or ritualistic practices. It always has been. It always will be.
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