Can Atheists Be Parents?

Time ^ | Dec. 07, 1970

[Dawnsblood]

After six years of childless marriage, John and Cynthia Burke of Newark decided to adopt a baby boy through a state agency. Since the Burkes were young, scandal-free and solvent, they had no trouble with the New Jersey Bureau of Children's Services—until investigators came to the line on the application that asked for the couple's religious affiliation.

[edcoil]

“Can Atheists Be Parents?”

Yes however they understand when they look into their child’s eyes and smiles, they only see worm food.

[jdm]

I misread the headline as "CAN ATHEISTS BE PRIESTS?"

Ha.

[Emmett McCarthy]

Yeah, sure, but they have to do to the schools for it just like everybody else.

[Sam's Army]

Alternate headline: “Can Time be in more love with Atheists”?

[ShadowDancer]

What a dumb ass thing to say.

[kjam22]

Only by accident.

[Paleo Conservative]

Exuse me, but the date you posted on the article was “ 1/7/08”. This article was published 12/07/1970, 37 years ago.

[MindBender26]

The freedom to practice religion includes the freedom to practice no religion.

My Protestant faith is so strong is needs no legislation to strengthen it.

[darkangel82]

Care to explain that idiotic comment?

[onja]

Makes me wonder if there are other issues at hand. Seems pretty arbitrary to reject because of a lack of religion.

[jdm]

Time was online back in 1970? Algore had the internet invented by then?

[Dawnsblood]

My apologies, you are correct.

[utahagen]

Since the woman is a “pantheist”, which means she believes in God in some form, why didn’t these two join a Unitarian Church so they’d have a religion to put down on the adoption forms? If they really wanted a baby, they would have done something that accommodated his atheism while (ethically) enabling them to claim a religion. I think there’s more to this story. (Antoher point: a woman giving her baby up for adoption is free to choose the religion of the adoptive parents. How many such women do you think say it’s fine if their baby’s parents are atheists?)

[Paleo Conservative]

Last year the Burkes presented their adopted son, David, now 31, with a baby sister, Eleanor Katherine, now 17 months, whom they acquired from the same East Orange agency.

I think I'd be more concerned about the age of the parents. If they have a 31 year old adopted son, they'd have to be rather old to be adopting a 17 month old girl. Considering this article was published 37 years ago, the 31 year old son would now be 68, and the girl would now be 38½ years old.

[antiRepublicrat]

Yes however they understand when they look into their child’s eyes and smiles, they only see worm food.

No, we see a beautiful child that we hope to raise to be a good person and a benefit to humanity. What a depressing outlook you're projecting onto others.

[festus]

I think even athiests are able to figure out how to insert tab A in slot B. Thats about all it takes to become parents.

[buccaneer81]

Eleanor Katherine, now 17 months, whom they acquired

Isn't that a heartwarming statement. "Acquired." Like a land transaction. God help us all.

[Past Your Eyes]

I saw the same thing. My eyes are failing fast :(

[Dawnsblood]

For any who care to know, it was reversed on appeal. Sorry about the old article.