There has been a lot of news lately concerning religious cults because of the recent activities in Texas. Many are questioning whether a religious cult is harmful or not. The answer is very complicated and I am not qualified to answer it. Religious groups have every right to meet and govern their own lives, to a certain extent. The problems occur when the actions of members of these religious groups are harmful to others or are illegal according to the laws of the state or country they reside in. Songs for a Mockingbird is a fictitious book based on a cult whose actions were both harmful to others and illegal. Although it is fiction, the message in this book holds truth in today’s world.
In the U.S. there are approximately 500,000 children in foster care. There are nearly 130,000 children waiting for adoption. This is an overwhelming number of children. The state of Texas has had more children in care than it can handle in recent years causing a lot of difficulties with overworked caseworkers, lack of funds, and poor care for these children. With the recent addition of more than 400 children, the state foster care system is operating beyond capacity. There is a serious need for new foster parents in Texas as well as throughout the United States. Unfortunately, there are not enough interested, qualified people to fill that need. Those of us who are working or who have worked in the foster care system need to spread the word about being a foster parent. We need to let others know that they can become foster parents and that the children in care really need their help. These children need loving homes to take them in either temporarily or permanently. Please help spread the word about how to help these children.