NO SANCTIONS FOR CHURCH AGENCIES ON SAME-SEX ADOPTIONS
Catholic adoption agencies in Massachusetts will not face legal penalties for refusing to place children with same-sex couples, the Boston Globe has reported.
On March 10, the Boston office of Catholic Charities announced that it was dropping adoption services, in order to avoid a direct conflict between Catholic social teaching-- which sees adoption by same-sex couples as a form of violence against children-- and Massachusetts regulations, which forbid adoption agencies from discriminating against homosexuals (people aflicted with same sex attraction). But Catholic agencies in the other 3 Catholic dioceses of Massachusetts-- Worcester, Fall River, and Springfield-- will continue to provide adoption services. Although the other diocesan agencies have not placed children with homosexual couples, state officials reveal that there have been no legal complaints against the agencies. And officials told the Globe that they would not initiate legal sanctions because Governor Mitt Romney has proposed legislation that would exempt religious agencies from the non-discrimination regulation.
The dispute over same-sex adoptions in the Boston archdiocese arose late last year, when officials of Catholic Charities admitted that they had arranged at least 13 adoptions by homosexual couples. After a review of archdiocesan policies-- and a clear message from the Vatican indicating that Church agencies must not be involved in same-sex adoptions-- Boston Catholic Charities announced that it would stop adoption services rather than clashing with state law.
In the other three Massachusetts dioceses, adoptions continue, without adverse legal consequences to date. Governor Romney has proposed legislation that would allow Catholic agencies to continue their adoption services without necessarily placing children in homosexual households. But legislative leaders have given strong indications that the bill will be rejected.
Boston archdiocesan officials had suggested that Governor Romney could issue an executive order exempting Church agencies from the existing regulations. The governor said that he lacked the authority to do so-- a claim that some lawyers dispute, but the archdiocese chose not to challenge in court. In the absence of an executive waiver or a legislative exemption, the Catholic adoption agencies outside Boston might still face a court challenge on their adoption policies.
I agree with the Catholic Church's view that allowing children to be adopted by persons living in same sex unions would actually mean doing violence to these children, in the sense that their condition of dependency would be used to place them in an environment that is not conducive to their full human development. This is gravely immoral and in open contradiction to the principle, recognized also in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, that the best interests of the child, as the weaker and more vulnerable party, are to be the paramount consideration in every case.
To raise these children in a morally corrupt environment, exposing them daily to a severely sinful life style and putting their lives and souls in danger would be extremely harmful and punitive to the child. I do not buy the secular media lie that these children would be refused by a heterosexual couple. From my personal and professional experiences, I have known Catholic/Christian parents who have made great sacrifices and have waited for years to adopt a child -- any child-- that God gives them.
Same Sex Attraction is an undesirable and immoral addiction that requires treatment. Would you allow an alcoholic or drug user to adopt a child? Why would you put a child who is completely vulnerable in such a volatile environment?
Via EWTN News.
On March 10, the Boston office of Catholic Charities announced that it was dropping adoption services, in order to avoid a direct conflict between Catholic social teaching-- which sees adoption by same-sex couples as a form of violence against children-- and Massachusetts regulations, which forbid adoption agencies from discriminating against homosexuals (people aflicted with same sex attraction). But Catholic agencies in the other 3 Catholic dioceses of Massachusetts-- Worcester, Fall River, and Springfield-- will continue to provide adoption services. Although the other diocesan agencies have not placed children with homosexual couples, state officials reveal that there have been no legal complaints against the agencies. And officials told the Globe that they would not initiate legal sanctions because Governor Mitt Romney has proposed legislation that would exempt religious agencies from the non-discrimination regulation.
The dispute over same-sex adoptions in the Boston archdiocese arose late last year, when officials of Catholic Charities admitted that they had arranged at least 13 adoptions by homosexual couples. After a review of archdiocesan policies-- and a clear message from the Vatican indicating that Church agencies must not be involved in same-sex adoptions-- Boston Catholic Charities announced that it would stop adoption services rather than clashing with state law.
In the other three Massachusetts dioceses, adoptions continue, without adverse legal consequences to date. Governor Romney has proposed legislation that would allow Catholic agencies to continue their adoption services without necessarily placing children in homosexual households. But legislative leaders have given strong indications that the bill will be rejected.
Boston archdiocesan officials had suggested that Governor Romney could issue an executive order exempting Church agencies from the existing regulations. The governor said that he lacked the authority to do so-- a claim that some lawyers dispute, but the archdiocese chose not to challenge in court. In the absence of an executive waiver or a legislative exemption, the Catholic adoption agencies outside Boston might still face a court challenge on their adoption policies.
I agree with the Catholic Church's view that allowing children to be adopted by persons living in same sex unions would actually mean doing violence to these children, in the sense that their condition of dependency would be used to place them in an environment that is not conducive to their full human development. This is gravely immoral and in open contradiction to the principle, recognized also in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, that the best interests of the child, as the weaker and more vulnerable party, are to be the paramount consideration in every case.
To raise these children in a morally corrupt environment, exposing them daily to a severely sinful life style and putting their lives and souls in danger would be extremely harmful and punitive to the child. I do not buy the secular media lie that these children would be refused by a heterosexual couple. From my personal and professional experiences, I have known Catholic/Christian parents who have made great sacrifices and have waited for years to adopt a child -- any child-- that God gives them.
Same Sex Attraction is an undesirable and immoral addiction that requires treatment. Would you allow an alcoholic or drug user to adopt a child? Why would you put a child who is completely vulnerable in such a volatile environment?
Via EWTN News.
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