Race, religion, altruism, and the transracial adoption debate: A survey of Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish social workers

Conservative Christians and Support for Transracial Adoption as an Alternative to Abortion

“…Multivariate models include a number of sociodemographic controls following previous research on attitudes toward TRA (Fenster, ; Hollingsworth, , ; Perry, , ). Fitting regression models for individual groups reduced the sample size for each model, particularly for religious “Others” ( N = 119) and the unaffiliated ( N = 174).…”

“…In a more recent study, Perry () also found that white Protestants and Catholics who attend racially integrated congregations are more likely to support TRA. Lastly, while Fenster () found no significant relationship between religiosity and TRA approval among social workers, Perry (, ) reported that respondents’ level of religiosity is positively correlated with support for TRA, even after controlling for sociodemographic factors. Thus, while Protestants on average appear to be less supportive of TRA compared to other religious or nonreligious groups, the more religiously devout are more likely to support the practice.…”

“…For example, Hollingsworth () reported that black females and white males tend to be less approving of TRA than black males or white females. Fenster () studied attitudes toward TRA among social workers, finding that white social workers are far more supportive of TRA than their black counterparts. Among the general population, however, others (Evan B. Donaldson Institute, ; Perry, ) have found a negligible to null effect of race on support for TRA.…”

“…Few researchers have sought to examine the relationship between religious tradition, level of religiosity, and TRA approval. Fenster () found that among white social workers, Protestants and Catholics are less favorable toward TRA than those of other religious faiths and those who indicated no religious tradition, with Protestants being the least supportive of all groups. Drawing upon national‐level data, Perry () also reported that Protestants (both evangelicals and mainliners) are less likely to approve of TRA than Catholics or the religiously unaffiliated.…”

“…Transracial adoption (TRA)—occasionally referred to as interracial or interethnic adoption—is understood as the legal adoption of minors by parents of another race (Fenster, ; Perry, ). This may include international adoptions or adoptions involving any combination of races.…”