Baptisim Debated

Roman Catholic Bishops in the United States are preparing to vote on a policy regarding the Baptizing of children adopted by homosexuals. The adoption issue is contained in a set of new guidelines for ministering to homosexuals -- guidelines that will be presented to the U.S. bishops at a meeting in Baltimore next month. The proposed policy would permit children adopted by homosexual couples to be baptized in the Roman Catholic Church, even though the church does not support such adoptions. According to a Washington Post report, the 23-page draft document affirms traditional church teachings on homosexual issues, including prohibition of the blessing of same-sex unions or homosexual 'marriages,' but it also addresses some new issues, such as discrimination against and harassment of homosexuals. The document, titled "Ministry to Persons with a Homosexual Inclination: Guidelines for Pastoral Care," has been four years in the making.