Evangelicals Start Adoption Push

Faithful Told To Back Up Opposition To Abortion With More Adoptions And Improved Foster Care

(AP)  Prominent evangelical Christians are urging churchgoers to strongly consider adoption or foster care, not just out of kindness or biblical calling but also to answer criticism that their movement, while condemning abortion and same-sex adoption, does not do enough for children without parents.

With backing from the evangelical group Focus on the Family and best-selling evangelical author Rick Warren, the effort to promote "orphan care" among the estimated 65 million evangelicals in the United States could drastically reduce foster care rolls if successful.

Yet sensitive issues lie ahead: about evangelizing, religious attitudes on corporal punishment, gay and lesbian foster children, racially mixed families, and resolving long-standing tensions between religious groups and the government.

Warren and others are scheduled to speak at a Focus on the Family summit on May 9-11 in Colorado Springs that aims to elevate the initiative onto the national stage.

"In some people's minds, the church has been very pro-life up until the point of birth," said Michael Monroe, who co-founded an adoption and foster care ministry at Irving Bible Church outside Dallas. "But a lot of people are saying it's not enough to be pro-life, we need to be pro-children, as well."

The effort has two major thrusts.

Aware that adoption and foster care are not for everyone, organizers are suggesting alternatives such as providing support networks for foster families, taking short-term mission trips and sponsoring orphanages.

But largely, the goal is to get evangelicals to think about children seeking "forever families" in their own communities.

"Many times, we think of orphans as 3,000 miles away," said Mark Andre, head of the new Orphan Initiative at Focus on the Family, an evangelical group heavily involved in abortion politics. "Many people don't think of foster kids as orphans. If you look at the numbers, it just really makes sense."

More than 500,000 children were in the U.S. foster care system in 2005, the last year for which federal statistics were available. About 115,000 were waiting for adoption.

The new campaign urges churches to follow the example of groups such as Denver-based Project 1.27, which takes its name from a James 1:27 passage to "look after orphans and widows in their distress."

Project 1.27 has agreements with five Colorado counties to provide training to prospective foster parents. So far, families have taken in 47 children and 21 children have been permanently adopted, Padbury said. The group is not a child placement agency, so it receives no money from counties.

Although Padbury said politics is not at the forefront of the effort, it is a factor: "If we are spending all our time complaining about homosexuals adopting, then why are we not coming forward to adopt these kids?"

Catholic and Jewish charities have long offered adoption services, and a multistate effort called One Church, One Child has heightened awareness in the African-American church community since the 1980s.

But conflicts do arise. Last year, Catholic Charities of Boston got out of the adoption business after it was revealed it has been placing children with same-sex parents for a decade. The organization was caught between a Vatican statement calling gay adoptions "gravely immoral" and a Massachusetts state law requiring agencies that take state money to make adoption available to same-sex parents.

[phoenix1218]

I say that as long as these american children are being helped I do not care what religion (short of any religion that has even a small iota of violence in it) the foster/adoptive families are. As unpopular of a opinion I am going to make, I am going to make it anyways...I do not mind being friendly with g@ys & le5bians but I do not think they should be able to raise children through adoption. If they have kids through IVF then that is their choice and I, and no one else, can stop that. I believe it for personal & religous reasons. I am not bashing them here, just simply stating an opinion. That being said, I think it is about time that people start adopting more kids, especially the older ones, from our own country before they go out of america to adopt an infant or extremely young toddler.

[ozziepooh90]

It adoption wasn't so expensive there maybe more people who could adopt.

[micma-2009]

It's about time these people put their money where their mouth is.

[superdem]

"Pro-Life" people will go to any demonstration and vote away peoples' rights on behalf of a fantasy fetus - that's easy. Taking that unwanted, crippled, down syndrome, mixed race or minority child into their own home and caring for it for 18 or more years ? Hmmm....Focus on the Family focuses on anything but humans caring for other humans. And what's this "religous" objection to *** taking in kids ? What horrible religion do YOU practice ? Jesus never asked anyone's particulars when he helped them, nor did he teach his followers to. Treat others as YOU would be treated. If YOU were young, helpless and abandoned, rotting away in an institution, and some kind gay people were considering taking YOU in and giving you a shot at life - what would YOU say ? Judge NOT - lest ye be judged ! The "pro-Life" movement SUCKS !!

[randalds]

Oh great! The only problem with this is that we end up with thousands more brain washed kids believing in the fairy tales from a 2000 year old book of fables! I suppose it's better then nothing, but placing children with born again Christians should be the course of last resort.

[hypnotoad72]

What's their take on offshoring? I don't like these fringe radical groups (right or left) that make some good points, without mentioning the real-life ramifications.

Yes, I know homosexuality is wrong - no problem.
Yes, abortion is ending a life - that is wrong, no problem.

But on a planet of 6.5+ billion, we have other problems. Some of which are obvious, but one way or the other, no fringe group (of any political persuasion) would take the time to think. And that's a problem too. Solutions exist.

To make a long story short, micma had a very good point about acting instead of merely preaching. Preaching is not bad, but in the case of hypocrites (like the chap crying "Global warming!!"), actions contradictary to the words render all credibility... gone.

[j-whitman]

Isn't this just peachy ?????
---- Rice who's called everyone EVIL,, Leads diplomacy -
-- While on the Home front,,,,, Bush prepares to Veto - Hate Crimes Legislation

Now they want to adopt more children ??? --- Might as well let the Taliban or the Moonies adopt them too.

[samthetvcat]

My trust level of evangelicals is low thanks to the commander in chimp, but Rick Warren's a good guy - he's the author of The Purpose Driven Life, isn't he?

I'll keep a wait-and-see open mind about this because I feel like the benefits vastly outweigh any sort of possible Evangelical recruitment indoctrination and squeezing out same-*** parent agendas . . .

[r9119111]

I respect Evangelicals right to have an opinion of their own. However, when they try to push their views on the rest of us, that's another matter.

There is nothing worse for a child than to be born into a home (or lack of a home) that is abusive and where the child is not wanted. Severe mental problems plague them the rest of their lives. In most cases the child is better off dead. Often, the child eventually commits either homicide or suicide.

Evangelicals should mind their own business and let God do his job. Then, they should stop playing God. Every mother has her own God to whom she must answer and it isn't necessarilly the Evangelical God.

[r9119111]

Did Evangelicals ever consider that it could be abusive for some children to be brought up in Evangelical households and have the
Evangelical God shoved down their throats the rest of their lives.

[randalds]

Did Evangelicals ever consider that it could be abusive for some children to be brought up in Evangelical households and have the
Evangelical God shoved down their throats the rest of their lives.
Posted by r9119111 at 02:07 PM : May 03, 2007

Amen to that. Brain washing your children into believing in a book of fairy tales to the point of terrifying them with a sentence to a fiery eternity in hell if they don't believe you is child abuse of the lowest kind. It ought to be a crime to teach children fundamentalist religion of any kind. Teach them ABOUT religion yes, but do not teach them that they have to believe in any of them if they don't want to. That IS abuse.

[clip24]

To all the anti-Christians out there. Are you listening to the hate you are sprewing and then criticizing others for their hate in the same breath? Putting religion aside, what kind of homelife do you think you can bring to a child that desperately needs the love of a caring family. NONE! That's because you are too busy with preaching your negativity and hate agenda and pointing fingers at others to give a *** about a child in need. What kind of person would be acceptable to you in your mines for adopting these children?

[r9119111]

Care for children, yes. However, caring for children so you can further your fundamentalist beliefs is cruel.

[vancouverboo]

Great idea. Let the born again *ssholes raise the children the trash produce.
Only problem is the trash won't let them go. They can only collect welfare if they have a welfare child. The more children, the more money they collect from Uncle Sap.

[usbrit-2009]

I believe that anyone who wants to adopt should be able to whether thet be gay, lesbian, heathen or Christian. Evangelicals have the "person-power" to solve the unwanted children problem in this country alone. I am no Born-Again myself despite having been brought up in a religious household, but these people are good law-abiding citizens and so should be able to be excellent parents. It sounds like the nay-sayers here are almost claiming Christians should not be allowed to have any kids - a totally untenable stand. An endless round of government paid foster parents is not the answer for these kids.

[phoenix1218]

Great idea. Let the born again *ssholes raise the children the trash produce.
Only problem is the trash won't let them go. They can only collect welfare if they have a welfare child. The more children, the more money they collect from Uncle Sap.
Posted by vancouverboo

Have you ever heard of what is called a Family Cap Child? It means: "a TAFDC rule that does not allow you to receive benefits for a child that was born 10 months or more after you first applied for TAFDC. There are some exceptions to this rule." So I refute your claim that people just keep on having kid after kid in order to get more benefits. This Family Cap Rule applies to the cash benefits. A child who receives no cash benefits may still be eligible for health care and food stamps, thats it. You have to be off of TAFDC for a period of time in order for a child to be eligible HOWEVER if a child was EVER not eligible then he/she will never be eligible until after they move out on their own.

[phoenix1218]

Teach them ABOUT religion yes, but do not teach them that they have to believe in any of them if they don't want to. That IS abuse.
Posted by RandalDS

The only way that would be abuse is if the parents told them they would burn in heII if they did not believe. Not all of the Jesus/Christian based religions feel that way. For you to lump all of the christian based religions like that is not right. I am catholic. I believe in GOD and all that the catholic faith teaches BUT, like anyone else, I am not free from sin and have my own views on things. I do not believe in shoving my faith down someone else. I do not tell people they are going to heII if they are g@y or le5bian. It does not matter if I believe in all that or not, to me what matters is if I actually voice it to someones face. That is what is wrong. I just wish we could all just believe what we want to believe without all this broohaha.

[youneek5]

I am amazed at the comments posted on this story. I wonder how many of these biased posts are even from parents? How many of you judge evangelicals because they are "intolerant"? It sure sounds like you are screaming intolerance here toward evangelicals. Hypocrisy isn't it? Personally, I have two biological children, one adopted child and am in the process of adopting another child. I consider myself fortunate to have expanded my family through birth and through adoption. My children are cared for, loved and provided for and they no they have us as parents to protect and guide them as they grow. Ask any child in foster care or in an orphanage if they would rather have an evangelical parent or no parent. It's a no brainer. Until you are willing to sacrific your time, energy and money in raising a "waiting child", not just for 18 years but providing them a family and a history for LIFE, please keep your judgemental and uneducated comments to yourself. No one has said that ONLY evangelicals should adopt, but every child SHOULD have the right to a mother AND a father, the way nature and God intended. It should be applauded that Christians are being asked to not only voice what the Bible says but also to stand behind it and act upon it. God loves the orphans and if you haven't guessed, I'm grateful to be called an evangelical.

[phoenix1218]

Now they want to adopt more children ??? --- Might as well let the Taliban or the Moonies adopt them too.
Posted by j-whitman

Maybe I'll sound dumb for asking, but I'll ask anyways....What do you mean by Moonies? I have never heard that before?

[clip24]

All you nay-sayers out there critizing Christians adopting or becoming foster families still haven't answered my eailer question, "What kind of person would be acceptable to you in your minds for adopting these children?" Or better yet "What kind of home are YOU willing to provide these children in need?"
Put your money where your mouth is people!

[rushman71]

The Moonies are the Sun Myung Moon's Unification Movement which started within Korea back in the 1940's

[randalds]

I do not tell people they are going to heII if they are g@y or le5bian. It does not matter if I believe in all that or not, to me what matters is if I actually voice it to someones face. That is what is wrong. I just wish we could all just believe what we want to believe without all this broohaha.
Posted by Phoenix1218 at 03:50 PM : May 03, 2007

I couldn't agree more and should have been more specific in directing my comments to the evangelicals who do their level best to shove their version of a god down everyone else's throat.

[gunownerdan]

I wonder if evangelicals will ever realize that the best way to protect the "sanctity of marriage" is to ban divorce.

[r9119111]

clip24:

No one is saying a thing about how Christians raise their children. What I gather is being said here is that adopting children to shove religious beliefs down their throats is wrong, not only is it wrong it is abusive. Check your own motives. Are your motives honorable or are you just shoving your beliefs on others? That's not for me to say whether you are or not. Only you can answer that.

[randalds]

No one is saying a thing about how Christians raise their children. What I gather is being said here is that adopting children to shove religious beliefs down their throats is wrong, not only is it wrong it is abusive. Check your own motives. Are your motives honorable or are you just shoving your beliefs on others? That's not for me to say whether you are or not. Only you can answer that.
Posted by r9119111 at 05:01 PM : May 03, 2007

That's right. If a person only reason for adopting a child is to create another little evangelical soldier for god, then that is child abuse of the worst kind. It's no different then the Nazi's segregating children into Hitler Youth camps just so they could teach them to worship Hitler. Either way you are brainwashing young impressionable minds to think only as you wish them to think, rather then teaching them to be able to think for themselves.

[clip24]

I have two children and we do attend church but we do not make them go if they don't want to or shove anything down their throats. We give them the information and let them make their own decisions. Freewill! My inlaws on the other hand are all Mormon (we are not) and their entire life revolves around the church and duty and the kids must participate. It disagree with that to a point, But they have all managed to raise some of most wonderful, well rounded and outstanding adults you have ever meet, so maybe "shoving religion down their throats" isn't all that bad. Mabye teaching our Children, hate and intolorance to other's beliefs is. Look at the gangbangers raising gangbangers in training? They learn from an early age not to respect life and they are surrounded by violence, guns and drugs.

[samthetvcat]

I kind of find myself in a zone where just last week I was criticizing the religious right for not really caring about the after effects of their pro-life platform - all the kids who would be born as a result that didn't seem to be part of their concern for the sanctity of human life. And now this week when some of the evangelical leaders are urging people to adopt these at-risk babies, I find myself skeptical but then I wonder if maybe I've got some bias there because if I'm critical of this position too then really they can't do anything that's acceptable.

I don't want to be intolerant of others who happen to have beliefs that I don't agree with, so I think because of the timing of this platform - just after the partial-birth abortion ban I have to believe they're trying to do what's right. And in the aggregate I do believe it's going to result in a lot of good. Isn't that what parents ought to do, is raise children with a solid value system until their 18 and then let their children decide for themselves whether they want to maintain those beliefs as their own or adopt new ones? Kids today are a lot more open-minded and tolerant, and I think if many of the households are going to be mixed-race then maybe this adoption process might actually soften the evangelical position rather than harden it.

Kudos to the religious right for trying - I too hope to adopt foster kids some day :)

[toldyouso21]

Go to you tube and see this video if you care about bringing the troops home--what's more, sign up and vote or leave a comment. Hurry, as fast as we tell people about this, CBS is closing down those blogs or appears to be limiting access.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=nnH
kWfIAyHE&mode=related&search=

Pass this message on.
Posted by toldyouso21 at 06:37 PM : May 03, 2007

[kansas1946]

Gee, what a novel idea. For years these "evangelicals" have been supporting Republicans that have tried and succeeded in cutting funding to every program in the country that benefit children. The foster care program is a nightmare, low-income working women have nowhere safe to leave their children, Bush has cut the food stamp program. Maybe these "pro-lifers" have finally decided that life matters after birth.

[rushman71]

It's really pathetic sitting here reading the remarks of these atheist believing that all Christians are raising their own kids as well as the adopted ones to be religious fanatics. First off, all of you atheist idiots believe in is absolutely nothing, not even your own selves. Second, you have absolutely no right to assume that all Christians raise their kids to be church-going fanatics. Reserve that for the Mormons and Jehova Witnesses. Third, until you can prove anything wrong or incorrect with the Word of God, shut the hell up!!!!

[randalds]

First off, all of you atheist idiots believe in is absolutely nothing, not even your own selves. Second, you have absolutely no right to assume that all Christians raise their kids to be church-going fanatics. Reserve that for the Mormons and Jehova Witnesses. Third, until you can prove anything wrong or incorrect with the Word of God, shut the hell up!!!!
Posted by rushman71 at 10:41 AM : May 04, 2007

1st, morality, goodness and sense of self is not owned by any religion (which doesn't allow one to be oneself, only a lockstep member of the church) and neither is believing in oneself. 2nd, no one said ALL christians raise their children to be fanatics only that SOME do (you should read the entire posts before making a fool out of yourself). 3rd, the bible is so full of holes historically and logically that one could quite easily use it as a sieve.

[rushman71]

RandalDS: Tell me, when was the last time you read the bible. How would you know that it "is so full of holes historically and logically that one could quite easily use it as a sieve". Forgive if I'm wrong here, but you sound like the type of person who doesn't have the time, patience, understanding, "morality, goodness and sense of self" to even be bothered in the truth. There are so many events throughout the bible that have been discovered by archeologist, anthropologist, paleantologists, and other types of scientists that puts the word "evolution" up in question. If you have "facts" that there is no God, no Jesus, no Holy Spirit, please provide them.

[randalds]

There are so many events throughout the bible that have been discovered by archeologist, anthropologist, paleantologists, and other types of scientists that puts the word "evolution" up in question. If you have "facts" that there is no God, no Jesus, no Holy Spirit, please provide them.
Posted by rushman71 at 02:29 PM : May 04, 2007

I have read the bible several times and refer to it often. I in fact have one right on my desk right now. As for historical accuracy, in order to believe that it is accurate one would have to believe that the world was created in 6 days approximately 6000 years ago, which is in and of itself ridiculous. no credible scientist doubts that the world is less then 4 billion years old. Also there is Exodus. A nice movie with Charlton Heston to be sure, but there is no archaeological evidence that there were ever any Jewish slaves in Egypt and it fact all evidence points to the great monuments of Egypt being built by paid and volunteer Egyptens.

[randalds]

If you have "facts" that there is no God, no Jesus, no Holy Spirit, please provide them.
Posted by rushman71 at 02:29 PM : May 04, 2007

As for so-called facts about the existence of a god, well that's a disingenuous question as one can not prove a negative. One can not prove that something didn't happen (or doesn't exist) in the same manner as one can prove that something DID happen. For instance, besides your faith that there is indeed a god, you can not prove it scientifically any more then I can scientifically dis-prove it, though I can certainly point you to many ways to prove evolution is real. Not being able to DIS-prove something however does not mean that it is therefore proven. Reality doesn't work that way.

However as to the existence of Jesus Christ, yes I do believe such a man existed, however since I do not believe there is such a thing as god, then I certainly do not believe he was the son of god. He was a wise Rabbi, a good Jewish teacher, but not the son of any god.

[rushman71]

It's kind of funny how for many years by many people the belief in science is fact, and the bible fiction. Since there is no "scientific proof" of God, why should I believe in Him. Because of the occurances that I have seen and experienced, have witnessed and told to others. I believe in One God, the Father Almighty, the Maker of Heaven and Earth, of All that is Seen and Unseen. And from what I have experienced, I know that there is a true God. I also know that there is Jesus Christ, the Only Son of God, who was born of the virgin Mary, who lived until he killed by Pontius Pilate. He suffered, died, and was buried. On the third day He rose again from the dead, in fulfillment of the scripture. The scripture regards different proficies throughout the Old Testament which almost everyone of them regarding Jesus has been done. The remaining have yet to be fulfilled, which is right around the corner. But no matter how much science may seem to hold towards fact, the fact remains that there is a God, but you would have to believe through your heart. You don't need science to prove the existance of God, you need faith and belief. May the Lord open your eyes to see and ears to hear to help give you understanding to His Word. Amen.

[randalds]

I believe in One God, the Father Almighty, the Maker of Heaven and Earth, of All that is Seen and Unseen.

Posted by rushman71 at 03:27 PM : May 04, 2007

Bully for you. I mean that. Whatever works for you is fine with me, as long as it's not inserted in the government or schools, then as an atheist I have no problem with whatever you choose to believe or not to believe. Just as you should have no problem with my choice not to. It's what makes America grand!

[rushman71]

Your right about that, which is why I am proud to be an American. That is something that you and I share: The First Amendment. Peace be with you.

[realpatriot1]

RandallDS,

With all due respect, if Jesus wasn't the son of God then he wasn't a very wise rabbi either. I believe he was both.

I take a middle road between you 2 dueling philosophers. I don't see the Bible as a"book of fairy tales" or as every word regardless of the speaker or the context representing the"word of God".

Yes, there are inconsistencies in the Bible. It's a compilation of texts representing the interpretations of a multitude of mortals. At the same time, there is a vast amount of scientific evidence supporting much of what's in the Bible that can't be explained away by doubters.

I fully respect your right to believe whatever you want and I also respect the right of Christians to practice their faith.

As someone who has criticized evangelicals in the past for not doing more to adopt while seeking to deny adoption to gay couples I applaud this as a positive development.it doesn't change my view that gay.

It's just as discriminatory to use the assumption that evangelicals will shove religion down kids throats as a reason to deny adoptions as it is to use the argument that gay parents will try to make kids gay. Both arguments are unfair to the vast majority. Both types of instances should be dealt with by child protection if and when they occur.

ut, I believe, a critical thinker with an open mind can find consistency and truth within the words of Christ as opposed to Moses, Paul, Luke,etc.

[realpatriot1]

Sorry about the split paragrah and the resulting incoherence. That's not how I wrote it and I'm not quite sure how it happened.

[randalds]

I don't really see the entire bible as a book of fairy tales in the sense that I don't think any of it happened, but rather that taking it literally (the old testament) is the same thing as if it were just fairy tales. Certainly it's possible that some of the people named in the bible actually existed and there's no doubt that many of the places did too, however believing literally that the world was created in 6 days or that Jonah was swallowed by a fish for 3 days is believing in fairy tales. As a book of philosophy or proverbs or general instruction on how to live ones life it certainly has much merit.

[randalds]

Your right about that, which is why I am proud to be an American. That is something that you and I share: The First Amendment. Peace be with you.
Posted by rushman71 at 03:54 PM : May 04, 2007

And also with you. (I was raised Catholic.)

:-)