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FIRST-PERSON: Neglected children & social agendas

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McMINNVILLE, Ore. (BP)–With a majority of states refusing to accept “gay marriage” as a recognized legal status, some in the homosexual community are now willing to exploit foster children in their quest for societal acceptance.

“Prime Time Thursday,” a weekly “news magazine” featured on ABC and hosted by Diane Sawyer, aired a “special” edition on Thursday, March 14, titled “Rosie’s Story: For the Sake of the Children.” The two-hour program featured talk show host Rosie O’Donnell, who for the first time and from her own lips referred to herself a “gay parent.” A homosexual couple who is raising five foster children, four of whom are infected with HIV, also were highlighted. The purpose of the program was to call attention to the Florida law that will not allow a foster child to be adopted by a homosexual.

While Prime Time’s most heartfelt story concerned Steve Lofton and Roger Croteau, a gay couple giving hope to foster kids no one wanted, and their inability to adopt one of the children due to the Florida law, the bulk of the program focused on Rosie O’Donnell and the fact that the talk show host — loved by millions — is gay and a parent.

Rosie’s image is one of caring for kids. Ms. Sawyer noted that over the years Ms. O’Donnell has raised “50 million dollars” for children’s causes. Prime Time sought to capitalize on Rosie’s history of caring for children by subtitling the program “For the Sake of the Children.” However, close scrutiny of O’Donnell’s record reveals a slight blemish in her “concern” for children.

In reference to Andrea Yates, who drowned her five children this past summer, Rosie “For the Sake of the Children” O’Donnell stated in an interview, “I felt such overwhelming empathy for her….” This is the same Rosie who is currently quoted on a website taking issue with Florida’s ban on homosexual adoption as hating a woman who was asleep while her child was sexually abused (www.lethimstay.com). It seems that Rosie’s emotions shift with the cause she is championing. Homosexual adoption elicits hatred for a mother, who at best, was indirectly responsible for her child being abused. However, because Andrea Yates was depressed, Rosie feels sorry for her — but shows no concern for Yates’ dead children.

Rosie’s reason for being a part of the Prime Time Live special was to stump for homosexual adoption — not adoption in general, but homosexual adoption in particular. If your primary concern is the welfare of children, why do a program that narrowly targets only homosexual adoption? Why not do a program that highlights the need for more adoptive parents, period?

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Ms. Sawyer and Ms. O’Donnell wanted viewers to believe that the answer to the thousands of children languishing in foster care is to allow homosexuals to adopt them. The way the story was presented, you would have thought scores of gay couples were waiting for the law to change so they could adopt each and every one of the unwanted children now in foster care. However, when Ms. Sawyer asked the question that was on my mind, “How many homosexual couples are wanting to adopt?” she herself had to answer, “We don’t know.” She then quickly added, “We do know there are just not enough heterosexuals.”

Rather than investigate what is keeping more heterosexual couples from seeking to adopt foster kids, viewers were left with the impression that heterosexuals are simply not compassionate enough. Homosexuals, on the other hand, given the chance with a change in the law, will express their concern by adopting as many children as possible.

It was interesting that neither Sawyer nor O’Donnell stressed that Florida is the only state that has a law that specifically prohibits homosexuals from adopting a foster child. Further, they failed to offer any statistics from other states or any polls that indicate homosexuals are lining up to adopt children in foster care. In short, in their effort to promote homosexuality as an acceptable lifestyle, Sawyer and O’Donnell suggest a solution that doesn’t seem to currently exist, at least not in large enough numbers to make a significant difference.

Foster care is an emotional subject. Those who sacrifice to give unwanted children love and care should be lauded and applauded. However, to take advantage of the plight of neglected children in order to push a social agenda is unconscionable. And make no mistake about it, that is exactly what “Rosie’s Story: For the Sake of the Children” sought to do.
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Boggs, whose column appears in Baptist Press each week, is pastor of Valley Baptist Church, McMinnville, Ore.