China has halted its decades-long practice of allowing citizens of other countries to adopt Chinese children, surprising agencies that have worked with the communist country for decades and disappointing many families whose costly, years-long efforts suddenly have come to an…
Conservative evangelicals claim they are being persecuted by not being allowed to persecute LGBTQ foster kids
In the latest episode of conservative Christianity’s persecution complex, the Biden administration is accused of discriminating against Christians by prohibiting them from fostering kids. “Biden Takes Aim at Christian Foster Care,” one headline from the American Family Association claims. “The Biden Regime…
The unrecognized grief of adoption
I’ve been working at an affordable senior living complex for almost a year. The role includes serving as pastor of the church that meets on site as well as creating initiatives to nurture spiritual wellness within the community and the…
Most states face a shortage of foster parents, yet the community most open to help fears discrimination
As a majority of states in America continue to face a foster care crisis, one of the most interested groups in helping displaced children often fails to volunteer out of fear of rejection. That’s the finding of new research by…
A baby on the doorstep at Bubba-Doo’s
Shakira came into Bubba-Doo’s last Thursday like she so often does, somehow looking extra focused on that day. Shakira is a strong young woman. She always moves with purpose and keeps a lot of things going in her busy life….
Blessing is naming what is true
“You are so blessed.” I hear this statement sometimes, usually in places where my bandwidth for seeing the sacred is about gone. In the grocery store, when my four little goofballs are hanging off a cart or screaming, I don’t…
Tony and Lauren Dungy know something about influence, on the field and at home
The first Black coach to win a Super Bowl title remains a family man as well as a legendary coach. Tony Dungy and his wife, Lauren, are the parents of 11 children — some their biological children and some adopted…
It’s still ‘Christians only’ at this Tennessee Methodist adoption agency
A Methodist foster care and adoption agency that receives government funding may continue to serve “Christians only” because the Jewish couple who challenged the agency were found by a Tennessee court not to have legal standing. The religious discrimination at…
Arizona shields foster, adoption agencies from discrimination lawsuits
Arizona’s faith-based adoption and foster-care agencies soon may refuse to work with people whose religious views differ from their own. Opponents of the new law protecting those agencies insist it will harm children who need safe, loving homes. The Arizona…