Roy and Delyte Cantwell of Independence, Mo., both at the age of 32, in early 1956 began the arduous process of adopting a child since they were not able to have a child in the usual way. On Feb. 28,…
Pivotal religious freedom case scheduled for day after election
As if a high-stakes presidential election isn’t enough for the first week of November, the U.S. Supreme Court on Nov. 4 will take up a case that goes to the heart of the culture wars fought by the Religious Right…
Yes, my kids are ‘real’: adoption and the myth of children who are less
As we prepare for the birth of daughter, we have been struck by the differences between the response to her anticipated arrival and the response to our first two children. Kids welcomed into families through adoption are no less “real children” than biological children.
ACLU challenges law allowing faith-based child services providers to turn away LGBT parents
The American Civil Liberties Union filed a federal lawsuit Sept. 20 challenging a Michigan law allowing faith-based child placement agencies receiving taxpayer funds to deny services to same-sex couples because of religious objections. The 2105 law is similar to legislation…
Texas Freedom Network head says using religion to discriminate violates the Golden Rule
The leader of a Texas civil-liberties organization formed to counter the Religious Right speculated in a radio interview May 27 that the state’s child welfare crisis helped boost a controversial bill headed to the governor’s desk allowing state-funded providers of…
Baptist pastor says faith-based adoption agencies shouldn’t discriminate against gays
The pastor of a Texas Baptist church which recently went on record as welcoming and affirming of gays has opposed pending legislation to allow faith-based adoption and foster care agencies to refuse to place children with same-sex couples. In testimony…
Orphan care takes center stage in LGBT/religious liberty debate
Adoption and foster care are taking center stage in the latest conflict between LGBT equality and religious liberty. In the Texas legislature, State Rep. James Frank (R-Wichita Falls) is proposing an amendment to the state’s Human Resources Code to protect…
Post election thoughts and raising bicultural children: fears, challenges and opportunities
La versión en español está disponible aquí. During the recent presidential election, I observed with dismay the counting of the electoral votes. As I tried to deal with the night’s stress, I resorted to intense cooking (at least for my…
Motivated by faith, couple rescues siblings through adoption
Since the day they got married, George and Agatha Wall dreamed about having a large family. They both grew up in large families — Agatha with nine siblings, George with seven. They longed for little feet running down the halls and…