News by email Donate

Suggestions

Top Stories

Most Read

Popular Videos

Indian-orphanage-main_article_image.jpg
CC
World News

India: Christian adoption centres closed amid new rules letting non-traditional families adopt

by Hannah Tooley

The Catholic Bishops Conference of India has agreed with the decision by a congregation, founded by Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, which runs a number of orphanages across the country and 18 of them provide adoption facilities.

It is thought the Sisters working in the orphanages endorsed the decision of the Missionaries of Charity congregation to close down the centres, according to ucanews.com.

Sister Mary Prema, the congregation's current superior general and second successor to Mother Teresa said: "The decision of seeking the government's de-recognition status for adoption centres applies only to India."

It has been reported that this decision was taken voluntarily after the charity was told to comply with new guidelines earlier in the month, which would let non-traditional families adopt.

Sister Mary Prema continued that: "If we were to continue the work set up by Mother Teresa, complying (with) all the provisions would have been difficult for us."

The guidelines aim to regulate adoption practices nationwide and it requires all applications and processing to take place online.

The rules state that a single woman is eligible to adopt a child of any gender but that a single man was not eligible to adopt a female baby or child.

The rules also allow prospective parents to look at the photos, medical examination report and child study of up to six children before making a decision.

Father Joseph Chinnayan, deputy secretary-general of the national bishops' conference, thinks that there are problems with these clauses.

One of the issues raised by the charity is the ability for unmarried adults, divorced or separated adults, or adults in same-sex relationships to adopt children.

The charity claims that these un-traditional family units go against the Church's teaching.

Father Chinnayan added that the ability for parents to choose between a selection of children "offends the dignity of children".

He confirmed: "The bishops endorse the decision of the Missionaries of Charity," and said that the Church will discuss the guidelines and potential consequences.

It is thought there was around 4,000 in-country adoptions in the country between April 2014 and March 2015, according to the government's Central Adoption Resource Authority.

The Missionaries of Charity statement said that the nuns will: "continue to serve wholeheartedly and free of charge unwed mothers, children with malnutrition and differently abled children" in all their institutions "irrespective of caste, creed and religion."

It admitted that the Sisters did not yet know the future of their children in the care, but they will look after them for life.

A Monthly Gift Of $11 Makes A World Of Difference

In a world of fake news there’s never been a greater need for quality Christian journalism. Premier’s mission is to provide the Church with the most up to date and relevant news, told from a Christian perspective. But we can’t do it without you.

Unlike many websites we haven't put up a paywall — we want to keep our journalism free at the point of need and as open as we can. Premier’s news output takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. No one in the USA is sharing news like we are across radio, magazines and online so please help us to continue that today.

For a monthly gift of $11 or more we’d also be able to send you a free copy of the brand new Premier Bible, a wonderful Anglicised version of the NLT packed with exclusive bonus content, reading plan and resources to help you get the most out of scripture.

Your monthly support will make a world of difference. Thank you.

Support Us
Continue the conversation on our Facebook page

Related Articles

Sign up to our newsletter to stay informed with news from a Christian perspective.

News by email

Connect

Donate

Donate