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March 10, 2006 - Statement of Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of Boston, On Adoption Programs Rev. J. Bryan Hehir, President Catholic Charities of Boston has been engaged in a ministry of adoptions for over a century. It was a work originally undertaken and carried forward by a commitment to the welfare of children in need. Both the legacy of this work and the remarkable accomplishments of Catholic Charities’ dedicated staff are a source of great pride to this agency. The world was very different when Charities began this ministry at the threshold of the twentieth-century. The world changed often and we adapted the ministry to meet changing times and needs. At all times we sought to place the welfare of children at the heart of our work. But now, we have encountered a dilemma we cannot resolve. In spite of much effort and analysis, Catholic Charities of Boston finds that it cannot reconcile the teaching of the Church, which guides our work, and the statutes and regulations of the Commonwealth. The issue is adoption to same-sex couples, and we realize that for many it is a sensitive, deeply felt issue of conscience. We recognize the complexity of the issue, and we are aware of the debates which have swirled around it. As an agency, however, we simply must recognize that we cannot continue in this ministry. Therefore, we plan to begin discussions with appropriate agencies of the Commonwealth to end our work in adoptions. We will do this in an orderly, planned fashion so that the children we have been entrusted with will be cared for, supported and found permanent homes. We use this opportunity to pay tribute to a dedicated, highly-qualified staff who have carried out this ministry often with great personal sacrifice. We also wish to thank all those who have supported our work in multiple ways over the past many years. This is an extremely sad decision for Catholic Charities, but our intent and commitment is to carry forward our mission and the other full-range of programs and services to children, teens, families and elders like the more than 200,000 that received services from us last year. Our goal continues to be to serve all those in need; we seek, as we have in the past, to serve the common good of our society. About Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of Boston For more than 100 years, Catholic Charities has continued its mission of building a just and compassionate society rooted in the dignity of all people. Catholic Charities maintains approximately 35 locations with services including basic needs services, behavioral health, child care and after-school programs, adult day health, counseling and refugee and immigration services. In 2005, Catholic Charities served more than 200,000 children, teens, families and seniors in need. For additional information about Catholic Charities, visit our website at www.ccab.org |
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