Adoption and the Catholic Faith
01/13/2010
Valerie Karlsson
As a Catholic, my faith honors large families, Mary, and all unwed mothers for saying "Yes" to God and choosing life. My husband and I are particularly grateful to the two birth mothers who were willing to do what was necessary to give life to th beautiful baby girls we adopted; this is a true example of unselfish, sacrificial love at work. Thank you, we will forever hold you in our hearts and be grateful for the precious gifts you have given us! 
Catholics salute the courage and sacrificial love of adoptive parents. We honor St. Joseph and all adoptive and foster parents for their willingness to raise, support, and love children they did not produce. They are parents by choice, not by chance. My husband and I were unable to have children of our own. We felt a strong calling to adopt and we both believe this is what we were meant to do. We wanted to open our hearts to a child and give that child a loving family and a good life. I promised God that I would provide my children with a loving home, education, and spirituality.
I have met several people through MLJ Adoptions and The Fatherless Foundation that have opened their hearts and homes to orphans. All of these families, when asked, will say that they are the ones that have been blessed not the other way around. The children have opened their hearts and forever changed them. This great act of love can be seen time and time again through the work of MLJ Adoptions. I have met with many families that have hosted orphans from other countries and adopted. They might not look like you, sound like you, or come from your background but that does not make these orphans need love and family any less.
Some examples of adoption stories in the Bible:
- First is the story of how Esther and her adoptive father, Mordecai, saved the life of the king. Together they succeed in foiling a plot against the Jews, and saving the Jewish people from death. As a result of his courage and love raising Esther, Mordecai’s people were blessed. He became second in honor to the king, and Esther, savior of her people, became queen.
- The second example of adoption is in Acts as Stephen tells the story of Moses. He shares how Pharaoh’s daughter rescued Moses from death and raised him as her own. Moses was popular among the Egyptians, and eventually saved his people from bondage, leading them to the Promised Land.
- Of course, St. Joseph is the ultimate foster father. What a debt we owe him for sheltering and preserving the child Jesus!
It is amazing how God was able to use these three ordinary people as adoptive parents to some of the most important children the world has seen. In all three cases, the adopted children saved the people. Esther saved her people from death. Moses saved them from slavery. Jesus saved them from death, bondage, and their own sins. Joseph, an ordinary man, trusted God, and God used him to protect the Savior of the world. If we trust in God and let Him use us, there is no telling what God can do!
As Catholics we believe in strong families. We do not support abortion, and we want to protect the children that do not have voices. We have the longest history of all churches in starting orphanages and orphan ministries. We believe in opening our hearts to those in need and providing for those that do not have means. Adoption is the working gospel.
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