[Apologetics] Choose Life examines agency's refusal to weigh applications by Catholics

[Art Kelly]

Bethany adoption policy scrutinized

Choose Life examines agency's refusal to weigh
applications by Catholics
at
http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050716/NEWS01/507160347/1002

By Jean Gordon
jmgordon at clarionledger.com

The organization that parcels out proceeds raised from
the sale of the state's Choose Life car tags has asked
to review the policy of a private adoption agency
after learning the group will not consider Catholics
as adoptive parents.

"We are receiving information from Bethany for our
board," said Geraldine Gray of Choose Life
Mississippi. "We'll look at the information they
forward to us to get a clearer understanding."

A local Catholic couple was told in a July 8 letter
from the Jackson office of Bethany Christian Services
in Mississippi that, "It has been our understanding
that Catholicism does not agree with our statement of
faith. ... 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."
Jackson, Hattiesburg and Columbus are among 75 U.S.
cities in which Bethany is located. The agency, which
is based in Grand Rapids, Mich., is one of 24 adoption
and pregnancy counseling centers in the state that
receives money from the sale of the specialty car
tags, which advocate against abortion.

Of the $244,000 generated by the sale of the license
plates in 2004, Bethany received $7,053. The agency
did not return a phone call.

Motorists pay an additional fee of $31 for the
specialized car tag.

Though the fee passes through state coffers, it is
considered a private donation, said Kathy Waterbury of
the Mississippi Tax Commission.

"They aren't public funds in that we are collecting
money on behalf of the organization the tag
represents," she said.

Nick Feduccia, a 23-year-old Catholic student,
purchased his first Choose Life car tag in May. He
said he was unaware proceeds would be given to a
charity that would exclude a certain faith.

"I'm pro-life, and every child needs a good home," he
said. "It's very disturbing to me that they would
exclude people who believe what they believe."

The state issues 185 specialty license plates, which
benefit organizations ranging from wildlife groups to
Mississippi's colleges and universities.

Proceeds from the sale of Choose Life car tags go to
the nonprofit organization Choose Life Mississippi.
That agency then distributes funds to nonprofit
organizations that have applied to receive a portion
of the money.

Gray said any anti-abortion organization can apply for
the funds by downloading a form from the group's Web
site, www. mschoose-life.org.

The two-page application asks applicants to describe
how they work with women who come in for pregnancy
tests, how many women they refer for adoption and to
verify the organization's nonprofit status.

"We've never denied anyone who applied," Gray said,
explaining Choose Life Mississippi aims to support
organizations that don't refer women to abortion
providers. "What we're interested in is saving
babies."

Choose Life Mississippi also supports the Morning Star
Pregnancy Care Center located in Gulfport, an adoption
and pregnancy resource center affiliated with the
Catholic Diocese of Biloxi.

That agency received $9,306 in 2004 from the sale of
Choose Life car tags.

As one of the programs of Catholic Social and
Community Services, Morning Star doesn't discriminate
in any of its services, said its director, Sister
Rebecca Rutkowski.

"Catholic and Community Services is open to all
faiths, Christian and non-Christian alike," Rutkowski
said.

However, Rutkowski said the agency will honor a birth
mother's decision if she specifies a particular
religion for the adoptive parents.

Catholic Charities in Jackson, which runs an adoption
program, also works with people of all faiths.

"Faith is not a criteria for being served by Catholic
Charities' programs," said executive director Linda
Raff.

Catholic Charities does not receive money from Choose
Life Mississippi, but Raff said she will consider
applying for the funds.

The sanctity of life is a major part of Catholic
teaching, and many Catholics rally around pro-life
causes.

"We have every need to support life in all of its
forms," said the Rev. Alfred Camp, senior priest at
St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Madison.
"From conception to going through the aging process."

Camp, whose car also sports a Choose Life license
plate, said misconceptions about Catholicism obscure
what all Christians share in common.

"The term Christian is for those who believe in
Christ," he said. "That's the unifying element. Christ
is the center of our faith." Estimates put the number
of Catholics in the state between 70,000 and 116,000.

Rep. Joey Fillingane, R-Sumrall, who voted for the
bill authorizing the Choose Life license plates, said
he is "troubled" by Bethany's practice of not
considering Catholics as adoptive parents. "I
understand they are a private organization and we
can't dictate who they let adopt," Fillingane said.
"But I think it would be in their best interest to
reconsider and repeal that exemption."




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