Ana Maria Q. Faustino (“Understanding the Church Position on Adoption by Same-Sex Couples”) explains why the Church is not in favor of allowing same-sex partners to adopt a child. According to Church teaching, it is in the best interest of the child that she or he be born and raised within a natural family founded on marriage between husband and wife. The lack of sexual complementarity in same-sex couples can undermine the development of an adopted child. Although there are studies claiming that children raised by same-sex couples fare just as well as those raised by a husband and wife, the findings are inconclusive and even disputed. Moreover, Faustino argues that allowing same-sex couples to adopt a child would ultimately undermine the Church’s teaching on marriage and its unitive and procreative purposes. – F. Ramirez (ed.)