Important distinction redux
I vented my frustrations with the "Christian adoption movement" here. I clarified that my beef is with the movement, not the faith, here. A few comments I've received offline are struggling with what is perceived to be my backing away from deserved criticism - a softening of the blow, so to speak.
This is not the case.
I've noticed recently on some adoption reform lists and groups to which I belong that criticism of this phenomenon is stretching beyond the movement itself to criticism of Christians in general, particularly conservative Evangelical Christians and Catholics. This makes me uncomfortable for several reasons.
First, it's personal, and I will not apologize for this. By now you've figured out that I'm Catholic. In the adoption world and in general, my faith is pretty well beat to a pulp every day, for things I, too, condemn, like the way Catholic leadership is addressing the priest abuse scandal or the nonsensical crackdowns on freedom of thought - think the Pope's recent smackdown of U.S. nuns.
In adoption, the criticism starts by pointing out the corruption or failure of Christian religious institutions relative to adoption: Catholic "homes" for unmarried pregnant women that served primarily to relieve them of their children; Christian orphanages cum adoption mills; Evangelical promotion of adoption to "save souls." I'm right on board with these.
I'm not on board with what typically follows, which is a broadening of the criticism to say Christianity and Christians in general are bad. Beyond the pure ugliness of religious discrimination, I personally don't believe these attitudes do much to get the mainstream to understand how dangerous it can be to treat adoption as charity.
Second, it smacks of the same small-minded bigotry we saw after the attacks of September 11, when Muslims in general were ostracized and worse for simply being Muslim. That's just plain wrong.
There are individuals out there, not generally part of the online adoption reform community, who understand the dangers of the "call to adopt" and are speaking out. I found a couple today:
Maybe if that happens, more will gather the courage to start speaking their mind, which will interject a more realistic message about adoption from within these faith communities.
If you know of other Christian bloggers who are speaking out about adoption injustice in general or the Christian adoption movement in particular from the point of view of their faith, let me know who they are in a comment or an email. Thanks!
This is not the case.
I've noticed recently on some adoption reform lists and groups to which I belong that criticism of this phenomenon is stretching beyond the movement itself to criticism of Christians in general, particularly conservative Evangelical Christians and Catholics. This makes me uncomfortable for several reasons.
First, it's personal, and I will not apologize for this. By now you've figured out that I'm Catholic. In the adoption world and in general, my faith is pretty well beat to a pulp every day, for things I, too, condemn, like the way Catholic leadership is addressing the priest abuse scandal or the nonsensical crackdowns on freedom of thought - think the Pope's recent smackdown of U.S. nuns.
In adoption, the criticism starts by pointing out the corruption or failure of Christian religious institutions relative to adoption: Catholic "homes" for unmarried pregnant women that served primarily to relieve them of their children; Christian orphanages cum adoption mills; Evangelical promotion of adoption to "save souls." I'm right on board with these.
I'm not on board with what typically follows, which is a broadening of the criticism to say Christianity and Christians in general are bad. Beyond the pure ugliness of religious discrimination, I personally don't believe these attitudes do much to get the mainstream to understand how dangerous it can be to treat adoption as charity.
Second, it smacks of the same small-minded bigotry we saw after the attacks of September 11, when Muslims in general were ostracized and worse for simply being Muslim. That's just plain wrong.
There are individuals out there, not generally part of the online adoption reform community, who understand the dangers of the "call to adopt" and are speaking out. I found a couple today:
- Father Thomas Brosnan's posts on adoption
- So You Think You Should Adopt? Please Don't.
- Off Target: America's Christian Adoption Movement
- Adoption is NOT cool
Maybe if that happens, more will gather the courage to start speaking their mind, which will interject a more realistic message about adoption from within these faith communities.
If you know of other Christian bloggers who are speaking out about adoption injustice in general or the Christian adoption movement in particular from the point of view of their faith, let me know who they are in a comment or an email. Thanks!
Comments
Maggie
I keep thinking I'm going to blog about it but haven't got around to it.
Here it is:
http://works.bepress.com/david_smolin/10/
No question that anti-Muslim backlash after 9/11 and anti-Japanese backlash after Pearl Harbor were/are different in their intensity and the expression of hatred.
I'm not suggesting that Christians are being treated similarly. I'm trying to say that to criticize Christians generally because some Christians promote this movement is not unlike the way some people criticize Islam because some Muslims are terrorists.
I don't want to be guilty of this, and therefore wantwd to be clear that my frustration with this movement doesn't stretch to Christians or Christianity generally.
Having said this, I would broaden your scope of "whom to seek out" regarding all faiths and really examine those who challenge not just the status quo but that of their faiths as well. The liberation theology of South America comes to mind, as well as the Islamic version as posited by Hamid Dabashi and Ali Shari'ati.
Picking up on Smolin's critique, I would point out this article I wrote recently on similar attempts within the Muslim world to justify adoption via the holy Writ:
http://dissidentvoice.org/2012/04/islamophobia-and-adoption/
I actually see in this more of a religious justification of class distinction and position; the use of religion to anchor one's place of power within society.
As a Christian that has been a member of both Catholic and Evengelical congregations I have seen both healthy and unhealthy views toward adoption within those communities. Obviously I feel that God has played a part in all of my live - including the adoption of our much loved Little Man. But I don't think God preordained that adoption or "Called" us to it.
I get very uncomfortable with people saing God has "called" them to adopt. Just as I am uncomfortable with anyone who says the are adopting because "they want to do what is best for a child".
In my opinion people parent (through birth or fostering or adoption) for only one reason - because THEY WANT TO.
"At the same time, I think it is crucial to show the religious justification for adoption which also maps onto similar justifications for colonialism, slavery, as well as economic and political predation."
This is really important for adoptive parents to wrap their heads around, first and foremost to make sure that it isn't a part of their attitudes toward their children, and also to understand why their decision to adopt isn't applauded the world over.
Thanks for the link to your post, I'll read!
Thanks again for commenting and passing on the link.