<DIV>Great analysis Stuart. As a Catholic I wouldn't have a qualm about Scripture being the final authority. But it seems that most non-Catholics (and, yes, even some Catholics) actually mean "my interpretation of Scripture" being the final authority. I would feel better about you revision of that statement. You also bring up a good point about what actually happened to bring about the rejection of the couple as adoptive parents.</DIV>
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<DIV>Dianne<BR><BR><B><I>"Stuart D. Gathman" <stuart@bmsi.com></I></B> wrote:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE class=replbq style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px solid">Here is the Bethany Statement of Faith. Let's look through it and<BR>see if we can spot what they think Catholics deny:<BR><BR>Bethany Christian Services is founded upon the Scriptures which reveal the<BR>triune God. Members of the national board, local boards, staff and adoptive<BR>applicants indicate their personal agreement with Bethanys Statement of Faith<BR>by signing below.<BR><BR>I believe that the sovereign, triune God created the world out of nothing and<BR>sustains His creation. The heavens and earth are His handiwork. He made man and<BR>woman in His image and likeness as the crown of creation. All creation reflects<BR>His greatness and power.<BR><BR>Seems like a no brainer.<BR><BR>I believe that God created the family, giving Adam and Eve the responsibility<BR>to conceive, bear and nurture children. As the creator of life, God Himself<BR>begins each human life at conception
and gives to each person, as His image<BR>bearer, meaning, dignity and value.<BR><BR>Life begins at conception - check.<BR><BR>I believe that sin entered the world when Adam and Eve disobeyed God and sought<BR>to be independent of Him. As a result of this Fall, all people are estranged<BR>from God and live in a world permeated by sin.<BR><BR>"permeated by sin" sounds like a reasonable phrase<BR><BR>I believe that God, by His grace, provided redemption and restoration in Jesus<BR>Christ for all who repent and believe. As the Savior, Jesus takes away the sins<BR>of the world. Jesus is the one in whom we are called to put our hope, our only<BR>hope for forgiveness of sin and for reconciliation with God and with one<BR>another.<BR><BR>Check<BR><BR>I believe that in all matters of faith and life, the Scriptures of the Old and<BR>New Testaments are the final authority. <BR><BR>Perhaps this is the problem? <BR>Depending on what you mean by "final". I wonder if they<BR>would accept a
wording that says something like this:<BR><BR>I believe that in all matters of faith and life, the Scriptures of<BR>the Old and New Testaments can never be contradicted or replaced by<BR>any other authority.<BR><BR>Could a Catholic have a meaning of "final" like the above in mind<BR>while signing it?<BR><BR>Actually, another question is, did the Catholic couple refuse<BR>to sign the statement, or did they sign and Bethany refused the family<BR>anyway because they were Catholic?<BR><BR>The Scriptures point us with full reliability to Jesus, Gods Son. The<BR>Scriptures tell us that we receive forgiveness of sins by faith in Jesus<BR>Christ, and that God provides salvation by grace alone for those who repent<BR>and believe.<BR><BR>Check - we've been over the meaning of "faith", etc.<BR><BR>I believe that forgiveness comes through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, Gods<BR>Son, who was made flesh, took our place in death, rose from the dead, and is<BR>now in glory with the Father
interceding and praying for His people.<BR><BR>Check<BR><BR>I believe that God, through His Spirit, lovingly calls, redeems and adopts us<BR>into His family, the Church and that, in gratitude for Gods saving love in<BR>Christ, we are called to live a life of faithfulness and obedience according to<BR>the scriptures.<BR><BR>Check<BR><BR>I believe that Jesus, through His Spirit, is presently directing Gods work of<BR>making all things new.<BR><BR>Check<BR><BR>I believe that the Christian Church, as the community of believers, has an<BR>obligation to protect, preserve, and enhance life as fully as possible for each<BR>person, born and unborn, from the beginning to the end of life. As Christians<BR>we are called to a life of faith into an ongoing ministry until that mission is<BR>completed by the coming of the Kingdom in its fullness. The Holy Spirit<BR>empowers us to fulfill that calling.<BR><BR>Check<BR><BR>I, along with all followers of Christ, believe and wait expectantly for
the<BR>triumphant return of Jesus Christ our King. At that time, I believe that Jesus<BR>Christ will gather us to Himself as one complete family and will, throughout<BR>eternity, fully enhance the lives of His children as citizens of His kingdom,<BR>sons and daughters in our Fathers house. As His children we long hopefully for<BR>that day to appear and we face that day without fear, for the Judge is our<BR>Savior and Lord. To Him be the glory.<BR><BR>Check<BR><BR>Approved: September 15, 1987 Bethany Christian Services National Board<BR>Revised & Approved: July 15, 2003 Bethany Christian Services National Board<BR>Revised & Approved: January 18, 2005 Bethany Christian Services National Board<BR><BR>-- <BR>Stuart D. Gathman <STUART@BMSI.COM><BR>Business Management Systems Inc. Phone: 703 591-0911 Fax: 703 591-6154<BR>"Confutatis maledictis, flamis acribus addictis" - background song for<BR>a Microsoft sponsored "Where do you want to go from here?"
commercial.<BR><BR>_______________________________________________<BR>Apologetics mailing list<BR>Apologetics@gathman.org<BR>http://bmsi.com/mailman/listinfo/apologetics<BR><BR><!DSPAM:1052CC3211A306277513083><BR><BR></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR><DIV>
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<DIV><EM><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#0000bf>Like a deer that longs for running waters so my soul longs for you, O God.</FONT></EM></DIV></FONT></EM></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000bf><EM><FONT face="comic sans ms">Ps 42:1</FONT></EM></FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><EM><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#0000bf size=1></FONT></EM> </DIV></DIV></DIV><p>__________________________________________________<br>Do You Yahoo!?<br>Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around <br>http://mail.yahoo.com