Catholic Friendly Adoption Agencies

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Paul and I are looking to adopt domestically. We live in Alabama and we are having some trouble finding a good agency. Alabama agencies have rules (not laws) saying that couples should be married for 3 years before adopting. Paul and I have only been married for 2 years. We have completed our home study and we are just searching around, looking for leads. Fr. Frank and the priests for life suggested Bethany, however, I was SHOCKED to read an article stating that the Mississippi branch doesn’t accept Catholics. We would rather go with our local Catholic Family Services, but they hold the same three year rule. What a pitty - my husband and I have been dating since I was 16…11 years now!!! We would really appreciate any suggestions. Thanks and God Bless!
katieandpaul.hopetoadopt.com 🙂
 
We did well with Lutheran Social Services, but it wasn’t in Alabama.
 
That’s excellent news!!! I feel better about them now! Yea! 😃
 
Ok - sad news. :confused: Bethany isn’t able to work with residents of Alabama on domestic adoption. Any other suggestions for agencies out there??? Thanks!!
 
Sometimes, we must accept limitations as they are. God has ways of using even the secular to make things better for all.

That said, we were not considered appropriate by Catholic social services when we first went to adopt – so we ended up adopting through Jewish Family Services – twice.

This third time we could have gone through Lutheran, Catholic or other services, but my husband wanted to go the county route. Evidently God wanted us to adopt Malachi was almost five years old when he was placed with us.

It is ironic that at the age of 36 I was too in the eyes of CSS, but now that I am even older (and the state changed the law) I am fully acceptable to be a mom.

Logic is not part of this process. Also, remember when the examination of your lives starts, it is to ensure a good home for the child and not to look for faults in you.
 
Thanks for your help…anyone else have any other suggestions? 🙂
 
What about hiring an attorney? In some states, a couple may hire an attorney to assist in locating a child without the need to be involved with an adoption agency. I’m not sure how the home study would be done—perhaps through the state?

As an adoptive mother of 3, I would suggest talking to other adoptive families in your state. Perhaps attend some orientation sessions at local agencies (just call–they’ll tell you when they are). Go to some adoption support groups in your area. The legwork will be worth it, as you will get a feel for what agencies are the most reputable. Bethany is definitely working to get rid of it’s “anti-Catholic” reputation–it may be a good time to work with them;) Good luck to you. It’s a road worth traveling!!! PM me if you have other questions.
 
We adopted internationally in 2004 and are going back to adopt our adopted childrens’ sibling. We haved used Lutheran Social Services both times. We truly wanted to use our Catholic agencies but unfortunately they were not accomodating and they were not reasonably priced. Good luck and do not give up!
 
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katieandpaul:
Paul and I are looking to adopt domestically. We live in Alabama and we are having some trouble finding a good agency. Alabama agencies have rules (not laws) saying that couples should be married for 3 years before adopting. Paul and I have only been married for 2 years. We have completed our home study and we are just searching around, looking for leads. Fr. Frank and the priests for life suggested Bethany, however, I was SHOCKED to read an article stating that the Mississippi branch doesn’t accept Catholics. We would rather go with our local Catholic Family Services, but they hold the same three year rule. What a pitty - my husband and I have been dating since I was 16…11 years now!!! We would really appreciate any suggestions. Thanks and God Bless!
katieandpaul.hopetoadopt.com 🙂
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Well, keep praying, because God will do what he feels is necessary for you and Paul. And also, God bless you! 11 years, man, I thought that that type of length was only in fairy tales or the '50s.
 
I am actually looking into an attorney in Florida. I have heard excellent things about her. I feel like we are getting closer, but it’s such a bumpy road! 👍
 
Were you approved for your homestudy? My husband and I live in Alabama. We have just begun our homestudy process. However, we have found and agency that will work with us, and we dearly love them. 80% of their couples are matched in 6 months; 98% in 12 months. We are concerned that we will be denied for the homestudy because we have not been married for at least three years. We ran into the same agency problem that you did. We are using the Adoption Ad Network in PA. They are really nice people to work with. They will be having another seminar in Philly in October. Do you have any peace of mind to offer us regarding passing a homestudy with less than three years of marriage? I have been researching and found that the Code of Alabama does not specify 3 years of marriage. Is this just an agency preference.
 
Yes, Paul and I have completed our homestudy - with an agency here in AL. She told us that we would have to wait to go on her list, but that she would do the homestudy so that we could start looking. I appreciate your response and I will check out your agency.

Thanks again!
+JMJ+

new site!!! www.katieandpaul.us
 
Hey Katie- Just wanted to say hi!

Take care and I’ll see you soon on the St. Gerard circle,

Ann
 
Thanks Ann!

To all who have been praying…Little update…two possible situations! One is due October first, and the other is due December 10th. Both babies are girls. One will be in Florida and the other will be in Ohio (I think). We are going to keep both options open - if we get two babies, we will be thrilled!!! Pray for these two mothers and for all of the mothers that have chosen adoption for their children…the most loving gift of all!!!

I will keep you updated! :dancing:
 
About Bethany -
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SeekerJen:
Maybe this will aid in your decision. It looks like there was a big misunderstanding on the part of Bethany. God bless and I hope everything works out for you.

clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050720/NEWS01/50720012/1002
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It looks to me that the problem was that there wasn’t any misunderstanding on Bethany’s part. They require all adoptive couples to adhere to their statement of faith, which reads, in part:

I believe that in all matters of faith and life, the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the final authority. The Scriptures point us with full reliability to Jesus, God’s Son. The Scriptures tell us that we receive forgiveness of sins by faith in Jesus Christ, and that God provides salvation by grace alone for those who repent and believe.

You can read all of Bethany’s Statement of Faith at bethany.org.

I actually think it was refreshingly honest for that Bethany branch to be upfront about excluding Catholics. I thought it showed that Bethany respected the Catholic Church’s beliefs by assuming that Catholic applicants adhered to them. They rightly reasoned that Catholics don’t agree that the Scriptures are the final authority in all matters of faith and life. Not that Catholics don’t consider Scripture as authoritative, but we insist on the authority of the Church as distinct from Scripture.

So actually, Bethany officially does exclude Catholics from participating, at least Catholics that know their faith, by requiring that all adoptive applicants agree to their Statement of Faith. What does this decision of the Mississippi branch not to turn Catholics away mean? I guess the Catholics will have to be informed about their faith, read the small print (figuratively), and voluntarily exclude themselves from Bethany’s adoption services (or deny an article of Catholic faith).

Incidentally, the Salvation Army statement of faith has a similar clause about Scripture that excludes Catholics. I wish I could believe that it wasn’t another symptom of American anti-Catholicism, but there you go.
 
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leahbrahms:
About Bethany -

It looks to me that the problem was that there wasn’t any misunderstanding on Bethany’s part. They require all adoptive couples to adhere to their statement of faith, which reads, in part:

I believe that in all matters of faith and life, the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the final authority. The Scriptures point us with full reliability to Jesus, God’s Son. The Scriptures tell us that we receive forgiveness of sins by faith in Jesus Christ, and that God provides salvation by grace alone for those who repent and believe.

You can read all of Bethany’s Statement of Faith at bethany.org.

I actually think it was refreshingly honest for that Bethany branch to be upfront about excluding Catholics. I thought it showed that Bethany respected the Catholic Church’s beliefs by assuming that Catholic applicants adhered to them. They rightly reasoned that Catholics don’t agree that the Scriptures are the final authority in all matters of faith and life. Not that Catholics don’t consider Scripture as authoritative, but we insist on the authority of the Church as distinct from Scripture.

So actually, Bethany officially does exclude Catholics from participating, at least Catholics that know their faith, by requiring that all adoptive applicants agree to their Statement of Faith. What does this decision of the Mississippi branch not to turn Catholics away mean? I guess the Catholics will have to be informed about their faith, read the small print (figuratively), and voluntarily exclude themselves from Bethany’s adoption services (or deny an article of Catholic faith).

Incidentally, the Salvation Army statement of faith has a similar clause about Scripture that excludes Catholics. I wish I could believe that it wasn’t another symptom of American anti-Catholicism, but there you go.
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Wow. How eye-opening and unfortunate.
 
You know what…that’s exactly what I was thinking that there policy is. We have another agency here that believes the same thing. They would make us sign a contract with that same statement. I refuse to sign such a document!!! It would mean that I don’t follow the church’s teachings. So, no Bethany (even though I couldn’t anyway, living in AL) and no LifeLine (the agency with the same beliefs, here in AL). Thanks for your help! Say a quick prayer! We might get our sweet baby girl in December!!! 😃
 
GUESS WHAT…WE’RE PREGNANT!!! It’s a miracle!!! Thank you Jesus! 7 weeks along with a beautiful heartbeat! Thank you for your prayers! 😃
 
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katieandpaul:
GUESS WHAT…WE’RE PREGNANT!!! It’s a miracle!!! Thank you Jesus! 7 weeks along with a beautiful heartbeat! Thank you for your prayers! 😃
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Congratulations, and isn’t God greater than anything we can ever dream of?
 
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