# So now atheists can't adopt!?! \[circa 1970 - ed. title\] **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 4, 2008, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-atheists-cant-adopt-circa-1970-ed-title/432295 "2008-01-04T18:14:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2008, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-atheists-cant-adopt-circa-1970-ed-title/432295/1 "2008-01-04T18:14:42Z")
According to this story in **Time** a New Jersey judge has decided a decent couple who’ve already raised one adopted child are not to be allowed to adopt another because > [@](#): > > Despite Eleanor Katherine’s tender years (17 months), he continued, “the child should have the freedom to worship as she sees fit, and not be influenced by prospective parents who do not believe in a Supreme Being.” This is apparently based on the New Jersey constitution which says “no person shall be deprived of the inestimable privilege of worshiping Almighty God in a manner agreeable to the dictates of his own conscience.” Okay, fine. I can agree with that clause, but how does this differ in any way from an atheist (and a pantheist, according to the article) raising their own biological child? Presumably that child would be under the same influence. Can I just say to this judge, I HOPE YOU FALL AND ACCIDENTALLY SHOVE YOUR GAVEL UP YOUR TIGHT ASS!!! ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2008, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-atheists-cant-adopt-circa-1970-ed-title/432295/2 "2008-01-04T18:16:43Z")
I’m wondering how a 17 month old has any wishes to worship any being, Supreme or otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4da419/32.png) [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gala_Matrix_Fire)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2008, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-atheists-cant-adopt-circa-1970-ed-title/432295/3 "2008-01-04T18:19:25Z")
Wow. Just wow. I keep wishing the article explained more, but it’s pretty simple. The judge refused to let the parents adopt the child because they have no religious affiliation. ---
**Author:** ![Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sophistry_and_Illusion)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2008, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-atheists-cant-adopt-circa-1970-ed-title/432295/4 "2008-01-04T18:20:25Z")
Jesus Christ, that’s fucked. I can only assume this decision will be overturned on appeal. If not, we just need to build a fence around New Jersey. ---
**Author:** ![SSG\_Schwartz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SSG\_Schwartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSG_Schwartz)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2008, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-atheists-cant-adopt-circa-1970-ed-title/432295/5 "2008-01-04T18:21:32Z")
I don’t know if it is related, but **babygirl** and I have been on the list to foster/adopt in North Carolina and have yet to receive one call regarding placement. I indicated atheist on the application that I filled out. Many of the of the bios on the children looking for placement state that religion is important to the child. It is amazing how many things that couples capable of producing their own children can do that couples looking to adopt cannot. I will refrain from the hijack though. SSG Schwartz ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2008, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-atheists-cant-adopt-circa-1970-ed-title/432295/6 "2008-01-04T18:24:04Z")
[QUOTE=Biggirl] I’m wondering how a 17 month old has any wishes to worship any being, Supreme or otherwise. [/QUOTE] I wondered the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2008, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-atheists-cant-adopt-circa-1970-ed-title/432295/7 "2008-01-04T18:25:34Z")
[QUOTE=SSG Schwartz] I don’t know if it is related, but **babygirl** and I have been on the list to foster/adopt in North Carolina and have yet to receive one call regarding placement. I indicated atheist on the application that I filled out. Many of the of the bios on the children looking for placement state that religion is important to the child. It is amazing how many things that couples capable of producing their own children can do that couples looking to adopt cannot. I will refrain from the hijack though. SSG Schwartz [/QUOTE] Good luck on the process. I hope it works out for you. I also hope this ruling is overturned so fast the papers get scorched. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2008, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-atheists-cant-adopt-circa-1970-ed-title/432295/8 "2008-01-04T18:25:44Z")
Heck, why stop with atheists? Why not deny adoption rights to anyone who is insufficiently observant? I mean, if you believe in God but never go to church, aren’t you denying the baby’s freedom to worship just as much as if you don’t believe in God at all? Not to mention if you chose the wrong religion for the baby – forcing your child to be a Jehovah’s Witness is hardly allowing them to worship “as they see fit”, now is it? Clearly, you need to take them to a nice broad spectrum of churches and mosques until they’re 18. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2008, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-atheists-cant-adopt-circa-1970-ed-title/432295/9 "2008-01-04T18:26:45Z")
> [@](#): > > no person shall be deprived of the inestimable privilege of worshiping Almighty God in a manner agreeable to the dictates of his own conscience Couldn’t this apply just as equally to parents who want to raise their kids as Christians instead of Hindus? I don’t see how this decision could possibly survive an appeal. ---
**Author:** ![SSG\_Schwartz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SSG\_Schwartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSG_Schwartz)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2008, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-atheists-cant-adopt-circa-1970-ed-title/432295/10 "2008-01-04T18:27:41Z")
[QUOTE=photopat] Good luck on the process. I hope it works out for you. I also hope this ruling is overturned so fast the papers get scorched. [/QUOTE] Thanks for the support. I want to see the ruling overturned as well. Damned judge. SSG Schwartz ---
**Author:** ![Kokopilau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Kokopilau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kokopilau)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2008, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-atheists-cant-adopt-circa-1970-ed-title/432295/11 "2008-01-04T18:29:08Z")
“Monday, Dec. 07, 1970” ---
**Author:** ![LilyoftheValley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/54ee81/32.png) [@LilyoftheValley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilyoftheValley)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2008, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-atheists-cant-adopt-circa-1970-ed-title/432295/12 "2008-01-04T18:29:14Z")
I don’t get it. The article is dated “Monday, Dec. 07, 1970”. ETA: Simulpost ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2008, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-atheists-cant-adopt-circa-1970-ed-title/432295/13 "2008-01-04T18:29:33Z")
Did anyone notice the date on the article? ETA: Apparently, the answer is “yes.” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ea5d25/32.png) [@Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Scrappy_Hero_Pup)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2008, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-atheists-cant-adopt-circa-1970-ed-title/432295/14 "2008-01-04T18:31:23Z")
This is ridiculous. In four years, when I’m born, I will dedicate my life to overturning this decision. ---
**Author:** ![Kokopilau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Kokopilau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kokopilau)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2008, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-atheists-cant-adopt-circa-1970-ed-title/432295/15 "2008-01-04T18:34:22Z")
[QUOTE=SSG Schwartz] Thanks for the support. I want to see the ruling overturned as well. Damned judge. [/QUOTE] It was. ---
**Author:** ![SSG\_Schwartz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SSG\_Schwartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSG_Schwartz)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2008, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-atheists-cant-adopt-circa-1970-ed-title/432295/16 "2008-01-04T18:34:39Z")
Apparently, we aren’t the only ones to miss the [date.](http://www.parentdish.com/tag/john%20and%20cynthia%20burke/) SSG Schwartz ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2008, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-atheists-cant-adopt-circa-1970-ed-title/432295/17 "2008-01-04T18:36:20Z")
Hey, the dateline on that story is from 1970. **photopat** , were you aware that this story is 38 years old? ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2008, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-atheists-cant-adopt-circa-1970-ed-title/432295/18 "2008-01-04T18:39:19Z")
Aha! I’ve been seeing that story all over the place. I wonder why Time re-ran a very old story on their website? ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2008, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-atheists-cant-adopt-circa-1970-ed-title/432295/19 "2008-01-04T18:40:01Z")
Umm. Hmm. :dubious: I just found this on another board while doing a search. > [@](#): > > As noted in the comments on PZ’s blog (and everywhere else this appeared, digg, reddit, fark, etc.) this story is from 1971. Internets knows why it blew up today. My apologies to any participants who happen to be dead already. :smack: :smack: :smack: :smack: :smack: :smack: :smack: :smack: :smack: :smack: :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2008, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-atheists-cant-adopt-circa-1970-ed-title/432295/20 "2008-01-04T18:40:20Z")
For anyone who is curious, the NJ Supreme Court [reversed the decision](http://www.americanadoptions.com/adoption/article_view?article_id=2435&state=NJ&court_case=1) in 1971. So it had a happy ending. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-atheists-cant-adopt-circa-1970-ed-title/432295.md?page=2)