Is it illegal in the USA for adoption agencies to only help adoptive parents of their particular faith?

monkeykitty83

Nope, it's not illegal for private agencies to serve clients of a specified religion. These agencies claim religious affiliation, and that is their right. There are a large number of agencies who do require some kind of statement of faith, or to talk to officials from the prospective adoptive parents' church, synagogue, mosque, etc. Private agencies have a lot of leeway in what they're allowed to do with their policies.

However, it is illegal for state social workers to discriminate on the basis of religion when approving parents to adopt from foster care. I suggest anyone considering adoption at least look into foster care adoption, because there are thousands of children waiting for loving and permanent families, who would benefit from a good home.

Kim

No, it's not illegal. In fact, some "Christian" agencies even pick and choose which denominations of Christians they are willing to accept.

It seems weird to me that they can do that, but apparently as long as they are not accepting government money, they are allowed to make those sorts of stipulations.

Rock

If they are privately owned/run agencies, then I believe they can legally taylor their services to whomever they choose, although I am not sure. While those are fairly conservative and religious states, I would think you could find some more "diverse" agencies at least in one of the big cities. Also, birthparents have a say in who their baby goes to (if they want this). And quite honestly, I don't know many non-Christian women whom have relinquished a child. If they are Christian, they will typically seek a Christian home for their child. I think this is REALLY the underlying issue here, and in my opinion, it should not be challenged or brought to suit, as someone here suggests. A woman should be able to discriminate as to who she wants raising her child...she went to great lengths just to bring her baby to term for goodness sake. To deny her the right to choose who she wants the parents of her child to be subjugates her to a status of non-thinking/feeling babymaker. If you are asking this question because you are not Christian and seeking to adopt, I would suggest enlisting on a nationwide agency website, where your potential "pool" would be larger, and where there would perhaps be more non-Christian birthmothers looking for like people/homes for their children. Good luck!

sizesmith

If an agency is considered a Christian agency, most of their clients who're placing babies would probably be also. If I ever were in the situation to place a child, I'd truly want that child to be in a Christian family, of similar faith to my own.

There are several non-profit agencies through the Catholic, Lutheran, and Baptists faiths that I know of, and probably many more. Even in the foster care system, which is state run, a parent can ask that their child attend church of a certain faith.

Wundt

I agree with most of the other answerers, it is not illegal.

However, even if it were illegal, it would be pretty easy for them to get around. For one thing, they could just fail certain people on their home study for vague reasons, i.e."we don't feel they could provide a stable home", which would just be 'code' for "they aren't religious". Also, they can just give preferential treatment to certain parents when it comes to placements, claiming they are a 'better fit'.

It is a sad world where your religion is viewed as some measure of your character. I have never seen any evidence that 'religious' people or people of a specific religion make better parents.

Gaia Raain

Well, it looks like you're stuck adopting through foster care. Good thing they don't discriminate, eh (or so they say, anyway). Give your local DHS a call. Best of all, the kids in foster care are the ones who actually need new families.

Naanie

It MAY be that they are looking for parents of the same faith as the baby/child so they can be bought up in their own faith?

I don't see any other reason they would specify faith.

It is completely legal. It is actually a drawback for that agency, because they reduce the number of potential matches that can be made.

Randy B

I'm not sure which agencies you are refering to but I do know that in my area there are certain private adoption agencies, run by churches or religious groups, that do limit who they accept children from and who they place them with. As a private organization that is their right. Mothers do not need to deal with them and prospective adoptive parents don't need to approach them to adopt. As long as they do not accept any government money and operate as private agencies they can set their rules.

Heather B

No it's not illegal. But the sizeable Government Funding the Christian agencies receive to christianize adoptees, is a clear breach of separation of Church and State

jojo

based on your religion it shouldn't matter as long as you are kind, caring and loving and can provide a good and stable life for a baby. If the agencies are part of a church it might make them more partial to christian parents but it should not prevent from non christian parents to adopt.

Independ"ant"

The pathetic politics of religion doesn't begin nor end with adoption agency's.

The natural mother should be the one to decide where her child is placed not the money making agencies with self interests trying to spread the word of their false Gods.

Zander

I'll tell you what they don't look at that. they want to see you money and know about if you can provide for the kid. And have a loving environment. But if you can prove that sue the **** out of them for it.

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