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 remember back in the 40's when Catholics and protestants were not allowed to go to each other's churches and if you actually married a Catholic--whew! In the 50's, I had a Catholic bridesmaid and she knew she shouldn't do that either. All that is wrong, it was then and it is now. I disagree with much of Catholic teaching, but I have always loved my Catholic friends and acquaintances. They believe the way they want to, and I believe the way I want to. My son even married a Catholic, but she became born-again later on. There are a lot of misunderstandings on both sides of this spectrum but the important thing is to love, even when you disagree. I always call it agreeing to disagree. We can't change each other's minds. Only God can reveal His truth to people.
I was Episcopalian and later Methodist and both have become so very liberal. Too bad. I loved my Methodist Church and the congregation. M
No offense taken, FRiend. M
There are rules. It's one of the reasons a pacifist member can get an exemption from combat arms if drafted.
The trick on figuring out who is who is whether or not the family celebrates Christmas Eve (Day of the Dead), or December 15 or thereabouts.
They make the same claim of apostolic origin that you find more commonly in the Baptist movement. Undoubtedly it's not uniformly that way throughout the whole Mennonite movement.
There were signs up in CNY that said, at the time of the building of the canals and before MY time, "Irish Need Not Apply."
Thanks for the explanation.
so be it....
Catholics have always known where we stood in this country.......
just wait till the next Baptist is running for office...want to bet how quick he courts the Catholic vote?
I believe we, as believers, are commanded to be baptized. I have no problem with that. But I don't believe it needs to be for membership in a church. Born again believers get baptized, often again after they've been baptized as infants, because Jesus tells us to. We don't baptize infants, but we dedicate them to God.
I just found this thread. It has to be one of the goofiest threads I've seen.
Denying catholics an adoption....dumb.
Post #2.....dumb.
over 900 posts....Its an off-topic-tangent-fest.
The Mississippi branch of Bethany Christian Services, an adoption agency affiliated with the Presbyterian Church of America, denies Catholic couples the right to adopt children. The agency receives monies collected from “Choose Life” license-plate fees, some of which have been collected from Catholics. More than 40 Catholics have complained to the Catholic League about this practice.
Responding today is Catholic League president William Donohue:
“It is just as important to have the right remedy as it is to identify a real problem. In this case, the right remedy is not to grant government more police powers overseeing faith-based institutions.
“Currently, the extra fees collected from ‘Choose Life’ license plates are given to a non-governmental body, Choose Life Mississippi. This non-profit organization then distributes the private donations to appropriate pro-life centers; Bethany is one of 24 centers that receives funding. In the interest of fairness, it would make more sense to allow those who pay the additional fee the right to decide which of the approved pro-life centers should receive their donation. This kind of menu is common practice in the workplace and would insulate Bethany Christian Services from government oversight without asking Catholics to subsidize its work.
“In short, this remedy would not only allow for freedom of choice, it would also allow for diversity without sanctioning discrimination. This is precisely what I am recommending to the Mississippi lawmakers.”
Most Christians do NOT believe they can get away with murdere. I'm not even sure 'once saved always saved' is right. I know you can wander far from God and do horrendous things. But, only God really knows that answer, IMHO.
I know you got bashed plenty and I probably made a few comments myself about the pedophiles, but my main concern was that many of priests were just sent away someplace else. I'm sorry if I ever said anything to hurt my Catholic brothers and sisters. I never intend to.
Actually, the Scriptures are completely neutral on the issue.
We don't baptize infants, but we dedicate them to God.
But they're not considered full church members until baptism, right?
Interestingly, in this statement you have struck upon the exact Catholic position on the issue.
I don't know if you would call it discrimination, and you would have to check with each agency's policy, but I would bet that most Catholic adoption services try to cater pretty much to Catholic families. I, myself (as well my younger brother and sister) was adopted through a Catholic adoption service and I'm pretty sure that they worked strictly with Catholics. That being said, that was over 40 years ago, so things may have changed.
I don't think this has so much to do with whether or not the adoption agency's mission statement conflicts with Catholic teaching, as it may be that some parts of Catholic doctrine conflicts with what Protestant denominations believe.
That makes them wrong. It is certainly not allowed by the church.
Many humble thanks!
I'm sure in the 1000 posts prior this point has been raised but I'm too lazy to read them all. So just in case...
Let me correct your statement by saying "some" Catholics are Christian. (I hold up Ted Kennedy and most of the church in the Northeast).
Just as some methodists are Christian, some pentecostals are Christian etc. Christianity is an personal relationship between a person and God in the person of Jesus Christ. Joining a church no more makes you a Christian than sleeping in a garage makes you an automobile
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.