After looking at this topic from a few different angles, the question at the bottom line is how much of an issue is religion for you as adoptive parents going through the process and for the potential birth family as they make their choices as well. I do know some Jewish families who decide that they only feel comfortable adopting a Jewish child or infant, even knowing that the wait for a child will almost certainly be longer.

Equally, on the other hand, potential birth mothers (or parents) often express their preferences with regards to the type of family that will become their child's parents. Through an agency or an attorney, they may even select or interview potential adoptive parents. Religion, among other issues, may very well be a strong factor in their decision.

I like to think that we live in a progressive society, where most people are actually quite reasonable. I would hope that in most situations, religion does not become a hot button issue. Anna's foster parents, with whom we remain in contact, are deeply religious and devout Evangelical Christians. I'm sure that an Orthodox Jewish family was the last thing they had in mind when picturing the family that would raise the child they loved and cared for during her fist year of life. But here we are, and we get along famously. And instead of making religion the 800 pound gorilla in the room, we talk about it - not heavily - but we certainly don't ignore it. Neither of us try to preach to the other. We send gifts or cards for each other's holiday and ask questions about the other's faith or practice where appropriate. In our personal story, Anna's foster family is really as close to what we can come to when talking about her "first family," as we have no contact with her birth family. I hope that everyone can share as positive an experience as we have had with the other parties involved in your child's adoption with respect to religion -- and all other matters of course.