[Apologetics] Adoption Agency Turns Catholics Away

[Art Kelly]

Adoption Agency Turns Catholics Away 

Catholics Can't Adopt from Christian Service 
at
http://www.wlbt.com/Global/story.asp?S=3596858&nav=1L7tc9yZ

By Davis Brister
davis at wlbt.net

Adopting a child can be a tiresome and emotional
process. It has become tougher for a Jackson couple
who recently learned that one of the state's most
respected Christian adoption agencies would not allow
them to adopt -- because of the couple's Christian
beliefs. 

Robert and Sandy Stedman have been married for more
than three years. Infertility problems have kept them
from giving birth, so they're trying the next best
thing -- adoption. 

"We just thought that was a great way for us to start
a family," Sandy Stedman says. 

They got word to use Bethany Christian Services , an
adoption agency with offices in Jackson, Columbus, and
Hattiesburg. When they called to inquire, they got a
surprise. They were told they couldn't adopt. 

"It's a Christian service, and it's pretty important,"
says Robert Stedman. "If you're a Christian service,
then you don't pick and choose which faith of
Christianity you're going to select." 

The Stedmans are Catholic. Turns out Bethany Christian
services doesn't allow any Catholics to adopt in the
state. 

The agency's state director, Karen Stewart, told the
Stedmans in a letter that they had been denied because
they don't adopt Bethany's statement of faith --
something the Stedmans say they knew nothing about. 

Bethany Christian Services is a private agency and can
pick and choose whom they want to serve. However, the
Stedmans believe there are many Catholics and
Protestants who give money to the agency and don't
know this policy. 

"If they knew they didn't accept their own religion or
their own faith, I don't think that they'd donate
money to Bethany," Robert Stedman says. 

The Stedmans want to use their story to better the
relationship between Catholics and Protestants. "It's
important to understand that the Catholic faith is so
similar to my faith that I had as a child," Sandy
Stedman says. "I was raised Baptist." 

The Stedmans admit there are minor differences, but
the ultimate goal is the same: "That Jesus is our lord
and savior," she says.

Bethany's nationwide policy includes Catholics, but
Mississippi's state board passed measures to exclude
Catholics. 

Stewart declined our request for an on-camera
interview. She says the board will address the matter
during its next meeting. 


ART KELLY, ATM-S
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