Jackson, Miss., Jul 17, 2005 / 22:00 pm
A Christian adoption agency said it does not place children with Catholic couples because their religion conflicts with the agency's Statement of Faith.
Bethany Christian Services stated its policy in a letter to a Jackson couple this month, and another Mississippi couple said they were rejected for the same reason last year.
"It has been our understanding that Catholicism does not agree with our Statement of Faith," Bethany state director, Karen Stewart, wrote. "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."
Sandy and Robert Steadman, who learned of Bethany's decision in a July 8 letter, said their priest told them the faith statement did not conflict with Catholic teaching.