Church should rethink its attitude to adoption

As the Church approaches the October Synod, it would do well to return to Jesus’ teachings on the family – from which the notion of ‘nature’ is conspicuously absent. When Jesus’ mother and brothers come to speak to Him, He asks ‘Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?’ In answer to His own question, He points at His disciples. ‘These are my mother and my brothers. Whoever does the will of my Father in Heaven is my brother and sister and mother.’ For Jesus, family has little to do with nature and everything to do with shared purpose and communion. At the moment of His death, Christ commands the mutual adoption of John and His mother. The night before, at the Last Supper, He promises that He ‘will not leave us orph