Can I Adopt If I’m Not A Christian?
Video CC: Do you think being religious makes you a better parent? Today I'm talking about private adoption agencies and why they often only work with Christian couples. Private adoption agencies are usually non-profit religious organizations and they often prioritize Christian families. This means that to be considered for an adoption through these organizations you must be a Christian couple, not a I went to church when I was a kid Christian. I've seen applications that require a letter from your pastor or a deacon to prove you're an active member of the church. We were told by multiple agencies that they wouldn't accept an application from us because we don't go to a church.
Now you may be wondering why is this the case? Well private adoption agencies have their own values and beliefs just like any other organization. Each organization has their own set of rules and requirements that don't always match the state's minimum requirements to adopt. This is why it's important to do research to make sure an adoption agency is good for you and your parenting dynamic.
Sometimes when the organization is deeply rooted in religion they think that parents and children alike should have a strong religious foundation. In addition to this, private adoption agencies want to ensure that the parents raising the children follow the same values and beliefs as the agency. Even if the expected mom may be open to non-christian or same-sex couples, the agency will probably still only present cis heterosexual Christian couples. If you're not a religious family then it's better to find an agency that doesn't have a strict religious requirements.
Personally, I don't think being a Christian automatically makes you a better parent but some organizations do. Now we adopted our son through a Catholic organization but they just wanted to know that we were morally sound and we plan to talk about faith in some capacity as our child grows.
So if you're considering adoption be sure to ask if there are any religious requirements before paying any non-refundable application fees. Now if you're not religious have you experienced any pushback or have you been turned away from an agency because of it?