[Apologetics] Re: Christians Deny Catholic Adoptions

Tue Jul 19 09:16:44 EDT 2005

Art,

I had not read your reply before writing my own.  It's nice to see we both wrote basically the same thing but you did a better job of explaining it.

Thanks,
Dianne

Art Kelly <arthurkelly at yahoo.com> wrote:
Thanks, Stuart. You did a great job in analyzing their
statement of faith.

You also ask the key question: Did the Catholic couple
object to something in their creed or did the Bethany
organization reject them anyway?

I'll try to find out more about the facts of the
situation and let you know if I come up with more
information.

As you pointed out, there is very little that a
Catholic could find objectionable, with the exception
about Scripture being the final authority. 

I doubt that I would sign it, as it is written.

Of course, the Magisterium cannot contradict
Scripture. 

But the Bible is absolutely clear that the Church was
given the responsibililty to teach and that some of
that teaching is based on Tradition that was passed
along orally by the Apostles to the next generation of
the Church and the generation after that.

Furthermore, I can ask my Bible all the questions I
want and it will not reply. It cannot speak. It cannot
be the final authority because it is subject to
intrepretation.

Is the Eucharist really the body and blood of Jesus or
just symbolic? Does Baptism take away original sin and
any actual sins or is just symbolic? If I accept Jesus
as my Lord and pesonal savior, do I have absolute
assurance of salvation no matter what I do in the
future?

The Magisterium of the Church answers these questions.
But the Bible has verses in them that can be
interpreted to some degree either way. (Research into
what the Church professed in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd
centuries is a helpful way of resolving uncertainties
about the meanings of the New Testament.)

But the Bible cannot be the final authority because
there is no universal consensus as to what the Bible
means. Look at all of the MANY different versions of
Protestantism, which all claim the Bible as their
final authority.

I don't think most Catholic couples looking to adopt a
baby would want to get into a theological discussion.

But maybe there is more Bethany is doing to screen
applicants. Perhaps in addition to the creed, an
interview occurs in which the prospective parents are
asked a lot of questions on their religious views.

I'll see what else I can find out.

Art

--- "Stuart D. Gathman" wrote:

> Here is the Bethany Statement of Faith. Let's look
> through it and
> see if we can spot what they think Catholics deny:
> 
> Bethany Christian Services is founded upon the
> Scriptures which reveal the
> triune God. Members of the national board, local
> boards, staff and adoptive
> applicants indicate their personal agreement with
> Bethanys Statement of Faith
> by signing below.
> 
> I believe that the sovereign, triune God created the
> world out of nothing and
> sustains His creation. The heavens and earth are His
> handiwork. He made man and
> woman in His image and likeness as the crown of
> creation. All creation reflects
> His greatness and power.
> 
> Seems like a no brainer.
> 
> I believe that God created the family, giving Adam
> and Eve the responsibility
> to conceive, bear and nurture children. As the
> creator of life, God Himself
> begins each human life at conception and gives to
> each person, as His image
> bearer, meaning, dignity and value.
> 
> Life begins at conception - check.
> 
> I believe that sin entered the world when Adam and
> Eve disobeyed God and sought
> to be independent of Him. As a result of this Fall,
> all people are estranged
> from God and live in a world permeated by sin.
> 
> "permeated by sin" sounds like a reasonable phrase
> 
> I believe that God, by His grace, provided
> redemption and restoration in Jesus
> Christ for all who repent and believe. As the
> Savior, Jesus takes away the sins
> of the world. 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.
> 
> Check
> 
> I believe that in all matters of faith and life, the
> Scriptures of the Old and
> New Testaments are the final authority. 
> 
> Perhaps this is the problem? 
> Depending on what you mean by "final". I wonder if
> they
> would accept a wording that says something like
> this:
> 
> I believe that in all matters of faith and life,
> the Scriptures of
> the Old and New Testaments can never be
> contradicted or replaced by
> any other authority.
> 
> Could a Catholic have a meaning of "final" like the
> above in mind
> while signing it?
> 
> Actually, another question is, did the Catholic
> couple refuse
> to sign the statement, or did they sign and Bethany
> refused the family
> anyway because they were Catholic?
> 
> The Scriptures point us with full reliability to
> Jesus, Gods 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.
> 
> Check - we've been over the meaning of "faith",
> etc.
> 
> I believe that forgiveness comes through the
> sacrifice of Jesus Christ, Gods
> Son, who was made flesh, took our place in death,
> rose from the dead, and is
> now in glory with the Father interceding and praying
> for His people.
> 
> Check
> 
> I believe that God, through His Spirit, lovingly
> calls, redeems and adopts us
> into His family, the Church and that, in gratitude
> for Gods saving love in
> Christ, we are called to live a life of faithfulness
> and obedience according to
> the scriptures.
> 
> Check
> 
> I believe that Jesus, through His Spirit, is
> presently directing Gods work of
> making all things new.
> 
> Check
> 
> I believe that the Christian Church, as the
> community of believers, has an
> obligation to protect, preserve, and enhance life as
> fully as possible for each
> person, born and unborn, from the beginning to the
> end of life. As Christians
> we are called to a life of faith into an ongoing
> ministry until that mission is
> completed by the coming of the Kingdom in its
> fullness. The Holy Spirit
> empowers us to fulfill that calling.
> 
> Check
> 
> I, along with all followers of Christ, believe and
> wait expectantly for the
> triumphant return of Jesus Christ our King. At that
> time, I believe that Jesus
> Christ will gather us to Himself as one complete
> family and will, throughout
> eternity, fully enhance the lives of His children as
> citizens of His kingdom,
> sons and daughters in our Fathers house. As His
> children we long hopefully for
> that day to appear and we face that day without
> fear, for the Judge is our
> Savior and Lord. To Him be the glory.
> 
> Check
> 
> Approved: September 15, 1987 Bethany Christian
> Services National Board
> Revised & Approved: July 15, 2003 Bethany Christian
> Services National Board
> Revised & Approved: January 18, 2005 Bethany
> Christian Services National Board
> 
> -- 
> Stuart D. Gathman 
> Business Management Systems Inc. Phone: 703
> 591-0911 Fax: 703 591-6154
> "Confutatis maledictis, flamis acribus addictis" -
> background song for
> a Microsoft sponsored "Where do you want to go from
> here?" commercial.
> 
> 

ART KELLY, ATM-S
13524 Brightfield Lane 
Herndon, Virginia 20171-3360 
(703) 904-3763 home
(703) 396-6960 work
arthurkelly at yahoo.com
ArtK135 at Netscape.net
art.kelly at cox.net

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Ps 42:1

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