Free Republic

Bethany may renew their federal contracts by deciding to abandon Christianity in foster-care placements. But in the bigger picture, more abandoned children will run the streetsOn March 1, Bethany Christian Services sent shock waves through the adoption and foster care community with its landmark decision to place children with same-sex parents. There staring out from the pages of The New York Times stood the imposing figure of Chris Palusky, president of this historic Christian agency rooted in the Dutch Reformed world of Grand Rapids, Michigan.The news of surrender hit hard. Bethany, the ten-ton gorilla of adoption and foster care, and...

Adoption agencies that fail to prioritize mothers and fathers in child placements are bowing to social pressure, not the best interests of children.Adoption agencies that fail to prioritize mothers and fathers in child placements are bowing to social pressure, not the best interests of children. Bethany Christian Services, the nation’s largest Protestant adoption agency, made headlines this week when they began serving LGBTQ adults after years of rebuffing government pressure to place children with same-sex couples. To see which way the evangelical winds were blowing, Bethany commissioned the Barna Group to survey Christians on the question of LGBTQ adoptions. The...

Christian couple told: 'You can't foster if you think it's wrong to be gay'By DAVID WILKES - More by this author » Last updated at 11:24am on 27th February 2008 Eunice Johns: 'I can give love and security' They are devoted foster parents with an unblemished record of caring for almost 20 vulnerable children.   But Eunice and Owen Johns have been forced to abandon their good work because they refuse to tell children as young as ten that homosexuality is an acceptable lifestyle. To do so, they say, would go against their Christian beliefs. The devastated couple withdrew an application...

LITTLE ROCK (AP) -- Several national and state mental health, legal and gay-rights groups will get their arguments heard by the state Supreme Court as the justices consider whether homosexuals can serve as foster parents in Arkansas. A state judge said in 2004 that it was unconstitutional for the Child Welfare Agency Review Board to bar homosexuals from serving as foster parents. Justices on Thursday accepted four friend-of-the-court briefs filed on behalf of 18 groups wishing to weigh in. The briefs expand on scientific, legal and social issues raised during a trial held before Pulaski County Circuit Judge Tim Fox....