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.
I believe that Christianity is a PERSONAL belief, not a church dogma, in that not all Catholics are Christian and not all Lutherans are Christian, not all Baptists are Christians (get the idea?). It is a personal relationship with Christ that matters. You can go to church five times a day and not have Christ in your heart and life. There IS a difference. I don't like being dogmatic on this because I know many Catholics who are wonderful Christians.
I personally don't know any snake handlers. Speaking in tongues, yes, I know many fine Christians who do. Never saw a Christian burn a cross either. I do know that white supremacy groups call themselves Christians and they sure aren't. Nobody is saying Catholics take a hike. We protestants differ in our approaches to Christ and Christianity but that doesn't mean we hate Catholics.
Absolutely correct.
I like this Pope. I believe he will do great things for not only the Catholic church but the entire world.
Are you saying Mary, who lived for a number of years after Jesus died, was not one of the first Christians? Or that Mary, was not a believer in Christ?
I've never heard of prayer groups not accepting Catholics, at least not in our area.
My, my, nothing like painting us all with the same brush. I don't know any FAT hellfire and brimstone preachers. Most of them are good and godly men.
No.
I appreciate "hellfire and brimstone" preachers. Wish some actually existed these days..
Oh yes they do. They pray to Saint Anthony, other saints, Mary, etc.
Jesus is the only intercessor. We can pray to anyone we want, but that doesn't mean the prayers will be answered.
I'm beginning to wonder if there are intelligent life forms on earth (smile)!
Im Irish and not catholic so dont try to tunr this into a reace thing. >>
The Protestants did over 100 years ago.
You are a joke. And not even a particularly funny one.
great. stop annoying me, then.
Boo hoo.
You began this thread by insulting approximately half of FR.
So I'll feel free to annoy you several thousand more times if the mood strikes me.
A stupid Protestant will still insist that asking saints to pray for you is the same thing as praying to them.
An intelligent Protestant will simply ignore your point, and allow the stupid ones to keep repeating the same slander without correcting them.
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