INDIA: Charity Founded By Mother Teresa Ends Adoptions Over Divorced, Single, & Gay Parents

The Indian charity founded by Mother Teresa has ended its adoption services rather than comply with new rules which allow single and divorced parents to adopt. A spokesman for the charity told the press, “What if the single parent who we give our baby [to] turns out to be gay or lesbian? What security or moral upbringing will these children get? Our rules only allow married couples to adopt.” More from NPR:

The secretary of India’s central adoption agency, Veerendra Mishra, told The Indian Express newspaper that there were two points of dispute: “First, [Missionaries of Charity] will not allow adoption by single parents; second, they also have issues with couples, one or both of whom has had a divorce earlier.” A liberalization of adoption guidelines this summer has brought ideological differences between the conservative Catholic order and the Indian government to a head. India has opened up adoption to prospective parents who are single, divorced or separated. Under the name Nirmala Shishu Bhawan, the Missionaries’ network of homes provides shelter, food, medical care and schooling to abandoned and destitute children, including those with special needs across India. The adoption services were ended Aug. 1, according to Sister Amala, the nun in charge at the Missionaries’ home in North Delhi.

Only a tiny fraction of India’s estimated 20 million orphans are ever adopted.