Sunday, March 12, 2006

Have They Checked the Children?

It seems that every day we've been given tidbits about the Catholic Church's adoption policies and who they will and will not allow to adopt children. We read how the Gov. Willard Romney, on a campaign stop in the South, says he is going to file legislation to exempt religious organizations from having to "go against their religious beliefs".

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN?

It seems only the board of Catholic Charities, who voted unanimously to leave the adoption policies the way there were, was thinking of the children.

I would assume that if this Governor really cared about the children, instead of just filing a bill he would look at the facts. Clearly the history should have merit. The number is small, what is it? They say that 12 children have been placed in same sex households. How are they doing? I would venture to guess that the Catholic Charities' knows these families inside and out.

Compare those 12 children, who Catholic Charities say were difficult to place in opposite sex households, with the THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN that the Catholic Church abused. Hundreds (or thousands? the number keeps getting larger) in the Boston area alone, boys AND girls.

With these facts why would anyone trust the Catholic Church with children at all? Why are they even allowed to come into contact with children? Why trust the hierarchy, who said would take measures to ensure this never existed again and haven't, within arm's length of any child?

Based on facts alone, and not to take away from the wonderful work the laity has done, it is a good thing that the Catholic Church is getting out of the adoption business.

1 comment:

massmarrier said...

When we look at the actual numbers they place every year, there's no question other, more concerned, agencies can surely pick up the slack. This is particularly true if the $1 million a year CC got from the government goes to those doing the adoption process.

CC may be the largest single agency, but nobody dominates the process and it would be better to have people who care for kids from the top of the organization.

The church hierarchy turning its back on the New Testament priorities of caring for the needy may be a blessing.

The board members, experienced staff and volunteers who support the children can surely find new connections where the children's welfare is more important than the politics.