Stories About Real Families Affected By Catholic Charities
KnowThyNeighbor.org applauds The Boston Globe's Human Interest Story, Four Families Changed by Catholic Charities by Patricia Wen, June 25, 2006 and its accompanying Audio Slideshow which provide the reader/viewer with personal stories and conversations surrounding Catholic Charities and its decision to end adoption services. KnowThyNeighbor believes firmly that dialogue, though sometimes uncomfortable, is THE most means to bring about change beginning from within.
The Four Massachusetts Catholic Bishops who after "studying" this issue said that they could not continue the practice of gay adoption (due to the Church's teachings on marriage) should read these personal accounts. First person stories of those who were adopted as a result of Catholic Charities, who became adoptive parents (one even details the good feelings toward Catholic Chariites as expressed by a lesbian couple), and one who as an adopted child was raised Catholic and to this day will tell you that he is very proud of that fact. The topic of Catholic Charities which will officially be ending its adoption services (this Friday) due its conflict with "Gay Marriage" is discussed here and some of the conversations may surprise you in a good way.
I find the "real" conversations of "real" people in stark contrast to the lead story in the same Boston Globe, They Cared For Children. Here we can see the unfortunate way in which the Catholic Church by way of the Vatican seemed to punish the Commonwealth of Massachusetts by ending a very essential social service that they seemed to be very good at--all because the Church was not allowed to discriminate against same-sex couples and gay people regarding adoptions. I suppose I can say that this sort of move once again will turn people away from the Catholic Church as its numbers are already at an all-time low, but that is not my wish. This is not about gay marriage, this is not about Church doctrine, this is about the children. Children that need the services of Catholic Charities Adoption Program and the very same children that are being "punished" indirectly. When are we as human beings and as Christians (either with a big "C" or a little "c") going to wake up? 'In so much as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto Me.' (Matthew 25:40)
Tom Lang, Co-Director
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