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from Parenting & Family and Ethical/Theological Issues
'Boston Globe' Columnist Concerned Over Freedom Of Conscience And Gay Adoption
March 21, 2006 -
Boston Globe columnist Jeff Jacoby has recently penned a sobering commentary on
gay adoptions and the Catholic Church. His column was reprinted in the Jewish
World Review as "Adoption, kids, and the gay agenda."
Jacoby describes the current situation in Massachusetts with the Archdiocese of
Massachusetts shutting down its adoption agency in order to avoid state-imposed
adoptions of children by gay couples. The Catholic Church attempted to convince
the Massachusetts state legislature to exclude the adoption agency with a
religious conscience clause, but legislators refused.
Jacoby noted that the Human Rights Campaign spun the story with a headline that
read: "Boston Catholic Charities Puts Ugly Political Agenda Before Child
Welfare,"
According to Jacoby, the move by the Catholic Church isn't politically
motivated. It is motivated by adherence to Catholic doctrine on homosexuality
and the best interests of the child. "Catholic Charities excels at arranging
adoptions for children in foster care, particularly those who are older or
handicapped, or who bear the scars of abuse or addiction. Yet the Human Rights
Campaign and its friends would rather see this invaluable work come to an end
than allow Catholic Charities to decline gay adoptions," said Jacoby.
He asks the question: "Is this a sign of things to come? In the name of
nondiscrimination, will more states force religious organizations to swallow
their principles or go out of business?"
Jacoby quotes Harvard Law Professor Mary Ann Glendon who wrote in 2004 that once
same-sex marriage becomes legal in a state, "the experiences in other countries
reveal that once these arrangements become law, there will be no live-and-let
live policy for those who differ. Gay-marriage proponents use the language of
openness, tolerance, and diversity, yet one foreseeable effect of their success
will be to usher in an era of intolerance and discrimination. ... Every person
and every religion that disagrees will be labeled as bigoted and openly
discriminated against. The ax will fall most heavily on religious persons and
groups that don't go along. Religious institutions will be hit with lawsuits if
they refuse to compromise their principles."
The Archdiocese of San Francisco is facing the same dilemma that faced the
Boston Church. It, too, may be forced by anti-discrimination policies or
threatened lawsuits to shut down to avoid being forced by the city to place
children in gay households.
Adam Pertman with the Evan. B. Donaldson Adoption Institute says that "What
almost everybody has found is there's no reason to think placing children in the
homes of gay and lesbian parents is problematic in any way."
Pertman's claim is contradicted by the work of Drs. A. Dean Byrd and George
Rekers in studies available on NARTH's web site.
Dr. Byrd, for example, observes: "The notion that all 'family forms' are equally
as helpful or healthful for children has no basis in science. ... There is no
fact that has been established by social science literature more convincingly
than the following: all variables considered, children are best served when
reared in a home with a married mother and father." ("Gender Complementarity and
Child-Rearing: Where Tradition and Science Agree")
Dr. Byrd's survey of the scientific literature reveals that both genders of
homosexually-acting individuals suffer from higher rates of suicidality,
domestic violence, substance abuse, and mental health problems than do
heterosexuals.
Dr. Rekers' study, "Review of Research On Homosexual Parenting, Adoption, and
Foster Parenting," documents numerous emotional and physical dangers faced by
children who are placed in gay households. Those dangers include: stresses from
being in homes where the "parents" are suffering from psychological problems and
substance abuse issues; stresses from living with HIV- or STD-infected
individuals; stresses from being exposed to gay pornography, sex toys, and
inappropriate sexual activities that may include guests who come to the home;
stresses from actual or potential molestation from homosexually-oriented
individuals who either act as "parents" or guests; and more.
Dr. Rekers observes: "In a household with a homosexually-behaving adult, the
foster child would be exposed to additional stress with the impact of
significantly higher rates of psychological disorder..."
Dawn C. Stefanowicz grew up in a gay male household in Canada and has warned
against gay marriage and the impact it will have on children. She noted that
growing up in this home exposed her to "bathhouse sex, cross-dressing, sodomy,
pornography, gay nudity, lesbianism, bisexuality, minor recruitment, voyeurism,
and exhibitionism." In addition, she said that "sadomasochism was alluded to and
aspects demonstrated. Alcohol and drugs were often contributing factors to lower
inhibitions in my father's relationships."
Additional Reading: Parenting and Family
Updated: 8 February 2008
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