The Christian Chronicle – God put us together
I truly believe God put my family together, we come from 3 corners of the world and there is no-one else who would fit just right (well until the next adoption that is…)� but I have trouble seeing adoption as Christian mission.
Sure our kids are raised in a Christian home but I never set out to make my daughter a Christian. Indeed thats a decision she will make at the right age; God knows what she will decide; I hope I know what she will decide but thats her decision, not mine.
Anyhow, an interesting read. Enjoy.
http://www.christianchronicle.org/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=656
The article is a bit simple with comments like: “Is it for the good of the child and his native country, or are celebrities in some cases adopting for the publicity or just because they can?”
http://www.star-gazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070226/OPINION/702260307/1004
But if you get to the discussion you get some good details… here’s an exerpt:
There is a common misperception that people, celebrity or otherwise, adopt internationally to “save a child.” Genuine concern for the welfare of all children of the world is a motive, but solely to feel good or praiseworthy for “saving a child” is not. As a parent of several internationally adopted children I can say that the motivation is initially selfish. My spouse and I wanted the opportunity to raise a large family. This desire came from a selfish motivation to be fulfilled and give purpose to our lives. So in response to the articles tone, yes, the motivation is selfish and I don’t think that is bad or inhumane.
Story about asian adoption into the Jewish faith.
Adoption – InterfaithFamily.com
My favourite line: Adoptive parents feel that it is the ties of love that make a family, not the ties of blood.
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/features_parenting_blog/2006/10/fighting_words.html
“I am increasingly disturbed by people who see movie stars’ legal problems with adoptions as an invitation to take potshots at the international adoption process — or to imply it’s a bad idea.”
Who benefits from celebrity adoptions? – CNN.com:
After a while you get a bit sick of all these celebrity focused adoption stories. Quotes like “The money she will have spent on the adoption and will spend on the child could have gone to help many more children in Malawi. But then she wouldn’t have a cute black child to show off.” show a real misunderstanding of adoption.
Guess what, I didn’t adopt to save a child from poverty. I adopted to fill a need to have a child in my family to love and raise. Why did I adopt from the Philippines? Many reasons including their matching program, a family connection with the country, the fact that there are very few kids available for adoption in Australia. The thought of financial poverty in the Philippines never entered my thoughts. Since going there I know that while money is tight that culture, love, morality, christianity and lots of other wonderful things exist there in abundance.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6061526.stm
Quote: “People who adopt inter-racially are a little selfish and naive.”
Article starts out well. I think anyone who thinks about it would say that first choice is for the kids to remain within a loving family in their own culture BUT when the choice is lifelong institutionalisation or a loving multicultural family the answer is pretty obvious.
http://www.registerguard.com/news/2006/10/15/ol.holt.1015.p1.php?section=oregonlife
Children changing lives: The Holt adoption legacy that has created thousands of new families started with eight Korean War orphans
“The Holts believed they were doing God’s work, but they became lightning rods for controversy about how adoptive families should be made,” writes Ellen Herman, a University of Oregon history professor who has studied international adoption, on her “Adoption History Project” Web site.
What made the Holts unique, Herman says, is “they took this dramatic personal action.” It generated a lot of publicity and made them heroes to many, but others “were absolutely horrified,” she says.
VOA News – Madonna Trip to Malawi Highlights Cross-Cultural Adoptions Debate:
“Reports that pop star Madonna is in the process of adopting an orphan from the African nation of Malawi have brought praise for raising awareness about the rising number of orphans in Africa and other parts of the developing world. However, they have also brought criticism for encouraging what child welfare advocates believe is one of the least desirable solutions to the problem. “
The Baptist Standard :: The Newsmagazine of Texas Baptists: “Pat Williams has 19 on his Orlando ‘home team’”
19 Kids in the family. Pat Williams talks about fatherhood.
International adoption is not for everyone: “International adoption is not for everyone”
This is a quick self test that raises some of the issues concerning adoption.
