[WizardofOz]

MamaS, I do actually not feel anger, I just (try to) analyze the irrational rationally I do not really care whether the wording is "we do not work with you because you are Jewish" or "we do not work with you because we are Christian", i.e. negative action or affirmative action. Both negative action ("we do not work with Jews") and affirmative action ("we work only with Christians") qualify as discrimination and whose outcome is exclusion of somebody because he/she is "not one of us". Discrimination in adoption misses the true purpose of a placement, namely acting in the child's best interest by providing a safe and loving home. I think that adoption and religion should not be tied together at all.

Concerning "beliefs" we need to be careful because it potentially provides a golden opportunity to elegantly cover up everything and anything. Just imagine the possibility of somebody founding a religion whose "belief" it was that children should not be placed in families of color and opened an adoption agency!

Saya, international adoption (unless the agency is Christian) is a very good choice for minority religions. Unfortunately, this option is not viable to me as I am permanent resident. The U.S. government prohibits international adoption from permanent residents, that's another good example of irrationality in adoption I have posted several posts on this forum on that very topic. In particular, my heart goes out to my Indian Hindu friends who are permanent residents in the United States and who are forced into domestic adoption. Can you begin to imagine how hard it is for a Hindu to get a domestic placement?!

The person on the phone was taken aback when I told her that I take my son regularly to the Buddhist temple - he is of Cambodian descent - although I am Jewish. She then asked "do you celebrate all the Christian holidays?" and I said that I did not. In fact, I do not celebrate even one of them (and neither did Jesus, if I may add ). You would not fit the criteria either because in order to qualify with this agency, you must celebrate ALL holidays.

On a good note though, there is something out there for everyone. There are several fine non-sectarian agencies Our first son was adopted via a Utah agency and we are using them again now.