Bethany Christian Services Adoption agency decides Catholics OK after all.

Remember these guys? The "Christian" adoption agency that said Catholics weren't christians and they could no longer adopt children from their agency? Well, I guess they got hit with a ton of bricks, or a LOT of emails and bad press. Today I received an email from them, directing me to a new press release on their website:

http://www.bethany.org/press


BETHANY CHRISTIAN SERVICES OF MISSISSIPPI
VOTES TO SERVE CATHOLIC FAMILIES


Grand Rapids, MI-- July 20, 2005 --The local Board of Directors for Bethany Christian Services of Mississippi met in Jackson on July 19, and voted unanimously to change their practice to now include Catholic families in all adoption programs. “The Board in Mississippi responded appropriately and is now consistent with Bethany’s national practice,” said Glenn DeMots, President and CEO of Bethany Christian Services.

The National Board of Bethany Christian Services also met July 19, in Grand Rapids, Michigan and unanimously voted to reaffirm that “All families in agreement with the agency’s Statement of Faith, including Catholic families, are eligible to adopt.” The Board also stated that all Bethany offices will comply with this practice. “We are sorry for offending families and all partners of Bethany, and regret any pain and hurt caused by this issue,” said DeMots.

Bethany offices throughout the United States have worked with Catholic families for years. Statistics show that over 16 percent of Bethany’s adoptions in 2004 were with Catholic families. “Bethany has and will continue to place children with loving Christian families,” added DeMots.

Recently, the Stedman family was denied services from Bethany Christian Services of Mississippi on the basis of their Catholic faith. “We are pleased that Bethany listened to our concerns and made the change to work with Catholic families,” said Robert Stedman. “Bethany does admirable work and we can now be supportive of this pro-life ministry.” Sandy Stedman adds, “This decision by Bethany speaks volumes. We hope and pray this unites Christians.”

Bethany Christian Services is a Christ-centered, not-for-profit, pro-life, adoption and family services agency with over 75 locations in 32 states and ministries in 15 other countries. In addition to adoption services, Bethany provides birthparent counseling, family counseling, foster care programs, refugee services, and an infertility ministry called Stepping Stones. In 2004, Bethany placed 1,840 children (domestic and international) with their adoptive families and served over 10,000 children through other ministries. Bethany Christian Services was founded in 1944 and is headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan.


(I would love to have read the mail that they got on this subject. I sent them an email. Had to search the web site for quite a while as for some reason, :::snicker:::, all their 'contact' pages were down. All but the main headquarters page. Yep, they got bombed by the bad press. hahahaha. I just love it when things work out like they should.)

Assholes.

committed, gay Christian couples?

Or are they not Christians either.

I especially wish the Mormons of this country would see how they are just being gang raped by the religious right. They take the Mormon Republican votes every four years, and then trash their faith as not being authentically Christian.