[newsjunkie]

My husband and I are not religious at all, do not go to church, and do not believe in any gods. However, we are good and moral people and respect the rights of others to hold whatever beliefs they want. We are afraid, though, that when we are ready to begin the process of international adoption we will be turned away from agencies because of our lack of religious beliefs since so many of them seem to be founded by some sort of religious organization. We are simply looking to the future and are not planning to adopt for at least 2 or 3 years. It was shocking enough when I realized that I would need a hysterectomy and wouldn't have the option of getting pregnant, if we are going to have problems adopting I want to start preparing now!

If there are non-faith-based agencies out there or if the faith-based ones will accept atheist prospective parents or if there are some countries where religion matters more or less we would love to know! (I know that agencies cannot be recommended here, I just want to know if they EXIST.)

Thank you!

[luvmylittlegirls]

I seriously doubt you'll have any trouble finding an agency to work with. I've noticed that even many religious agencies don't require applicants to share the same (or any) faith. I'll PM you the name of one secular agency that does international adoptions.

Best wishes

[erinberry]

Don't worry - We had no trouble at all finding agencies who would allow us to adopt internationally through them, and we are not at all religious.

[mallory4]

We used a Lutheran agency and while their paperwork did ask about religion, they didn't mind at all that we're atheists.

[Mongoose]

I believe the Philippines require adoptive families to be practicing Christians. That's the only one I've heard of.

As for the agency, I know the one I plan on using doesn't care. It was the first thing I asked them, because they are faith-based, but they really don't care what religion I am - or am not. Others might. Just ask them right off the bat and there won't be any surprises.

Good luck.

[cmcmanigal]

When I first started researching adoption I had the same concern. Some countries have religious requirements and others do not. Same thing for adoption agencies. You will definitely be able to adopt, it's just a matter of finding the right country/agency for you.

[sak9645]

Homestudy agencies want families who have ideas about how they will raise children to be moral and ethical. With the exception of SOME (but by no means all) faith-based agencies, they don't care whether those ideas include raising the children to have a belief in God or any specific religion.

Plenty of atheists and agnostics have adopted. They need to know that they will have to teach their children how to respond when other kids ask, "Where do you go to church?" They need to know how to respond to kids and adults whose religious faith includes a belief in proselytizing, and who may say hurtful things like, "If you don't accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you will wind up burning in Hell." And they need to know how to enhance their own teaching of values, in the absence of support from a religious school, church, synagogue, mosque, etc.

But if the parents are on the same page about how they will teach ethical values, most agencies won't give a hoot about the fact that they are atheist or agnostic.

Sharon