By Jim Brown and Jody Brown
July 1, 2002

(AgapePress) - A pro-family organization is appalled with a decision by Big Brothers-Big Sisters forcing local agencies to admit homosexual volunteers.

Founded in 1904, Big Brothers-Big Sisters of America describes itself as "the expert in youth mentoring." Through more than 500 programs throughout the U.S., BBBSA provides one-to-one mentoring relationships between adult volunteers and about 200,000 children who come primarily from single-parent households. But effective today, a new mandate from BBBSA's national board of directors requires local agency directors to match homosexuals with their children -- or risk losing affiliation.

Dr. Bill Maier, a psychologist on staff with Focus on the Family, says he is troubled by the policy because it has dangerous consequences.

"Children who are in the Big Brothers-Big Sisters program come from single-parent homes," Maier explains. "Many of them are emotionally fragile, and they're desperate for attention from adults of their own sex. To match up a boy who is starving for male attention with a gay 'big brother' could be a recipe for disaster."

According to Maier, many Big Brothers-Big Sisters programs are in the public schools where, without a parent's knowledge, a child could be linked up with a predatory homosexual mentor. He also says in light of the fact that many of the Roman Catholic priests now charged with child abuse have admitted they are homosexuals, the decision by the youth mentoring group reckless and irresponsible.

"Little boys without dads need a role model who can teach them about being a husband and a father. And little girls with moms need a mentor who can teach them what it means to be a wife and a mother," he says. "Homosexual 'big brothers' and 'big sisters' simply can't provide these critical qualities in a relationship with a child."

A spokesman for BBBSA tells Focus on the Family the policy has been around for years. And while the executive director of a Colorado-based BBBSA agency acknowledges that is true, she says the difference now is that local affiliates are being forced to accept the policy, regardless if they agree with it. Maier says BBBSA is yielding to political pressure from the militant homosexual lobby.

© 2002 AgapePress all rights reserved.

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