"Christian" adoption agency shuns Catholics

[The Jacobin]

Christian adoption agency shuns Catholics

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's state 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.

Group will review policy

Bethany, based in Grand Rapids, Mich., has 75 offices in 30 states, including three in Mississippi. The offices are independently incorporated and are affiliated with various religions, spokesman John Van Valkenburg said. He couldn't say whether any were Catholic-affiliated.

He said the Jackson office is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church of America.

Stewart told the Jackson Clarion-Ledger that Bethany's board will review its policy, but she didn't specify which aspects will be addressed.

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.

Just as a sidenote, their priest didn't read carefully enough. From the Statement of Faith, this paragraph is probably the sticker:

I believe that in all matters of faith and life, the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the final authority. The Scriptures point us with full reliability to Jesus, God’s Son. The Scriptures tell us that we receive forgiveness of sins by faith in Jesus Christ, and that God provides salvation by grace alone for those who repent and believe.