The Christian Century

Adoptions of foreign children have been increasing among some American evangelicals, with children coming from African countries like Ethiopia, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Adoption is often an extension of pro-life beliefs, a way to address world poverty and a means of evangelizing children. It is also seen as a way of emulating God who through Christ has adopted humanity. Of the 201 accredited adoption agencies registered with the U.S. State Department, over 50 are explicitly Christian, not counting the Catholic agencies. Some families in the U.S. have been suspected of neglecting and abusing adopted children. From 6 to 11 percent of international adoptions fail. The failure rate for children adopted as adolescents is about 25 percent (Mother Jones, April 15).

Three men from the United Arab Emirates were visiting Saudi Arabia to attend an annual cultural festival when they were apprehended by the religious police. They were forcibly removed from the festival and deported to Abu Dhabi. The reason given was they were considered too handsome and women might possibly find them irresistible. Saudi women are usually not allowed to interact with males outside their family (Time, April 17).