A local branch of a Christian child-adoption agency has decided to change its policy and serve Catholic families. The board of directors for Bethany Christian Services of Mississippi voted unanimously Tuesday to reverse course after Robert and Sandy Steadman were rejected because of their Catholic faith.
Sandy Steadman said the rejection especially hurt because Bethany receives money from the sale of Choose Life license plates, which are purchased by many Catholics. "If it's OK to accept our money, it should be OK to open your home to us as a family," she said prior to Bethany Mississippi's change of policy, according to the Associated Press.
After learning of the change, she said, "This decision by Bethany speaks volumes. We hope and pray this unites Christians."
Glenn DeMots, president and CEO of Bethany Christian Services, said the board in Mississippi is now consistent with the group's national practice. The national board, in Grand Rapids, Mich., voted the same day to affirm that all families in agreement with the group's statement of faith, including Catholic families, are eligible to adopt.
"We are sorry for offending families and all partners of Bethany and regret any pain and hurt caused by this issue," said DeMots.
In a July 8 letter to the Steadmans rejecting their application, Bethany Mississippi director Karen Stewart wrote, "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."
Bethany's national office, founded in 1944, says more than 16 percent of its adoptions in 2004 were with Catholic families.
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