Christian agency starts to accept Catholics as adoptive parents

Published: 2005-07-21

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- After a flap over its exclusion of Catholics as adoptive parents, Bethany Christian Services of Mississippi announced July 20 that from now on it will "include Catholic families in all adoption programs." The old policy made national news after The Clarion-Ledger, Jackson's daily newspaper, reported in mid-July that the statewide family services and adoption agency had turned away at least two Catholic couples who were seeking to adopt a child simply because the couples were Catholic. The story got picked up by The Associated Press and received wide distribution in print, broadcast and electronic media across the country. In a statement e-mailed July 20 to Catholic News Service and other media who inquired, the Mississippi agency said its board July 19 "voted unanimously to change the practice. ... In accepting applications for adoption, all Christians who are in agreement with our agency statement of faith are welcome applicants to the adoption process."

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