CBS News reports on Ethiopian Adoptions
I read an article tonight about a story that will be aired on CBS news. It is looking into unethical Ethiopian adoptions. I did not watch the piece but the article focused specifically on one agency. They were discussing human trafficking being disguised as adoptions and talking about some agencies paying the families for the children. It breaks my heart because I know this does indeed happen. What saddens me even more is that the agency in question is a "Christian" organization. As Christians, we are called to care for orphans, either by adopting, funding adoptions, or otherwise. By exploiting the very children God wants to protect and love, agencies like this make the intentions of Christians look perverse at worst and self seeking at best.
I guess I am even more disturbed by this because I can not ever imagine doing such a horrendous thing. We chose to grow our family through adoption and felt called to do so internationally. We felt the pull of a country stricken with AIDS and famine and a place whose borders are plagued with the issues of children being swept away to become child warriors. I would never stand for such unethical practices and I abhor the mere thought.
With this being said, I am also glad that agencies in Ethiopia and around the world are held accountable for such travesties. Light should be shed on those harming children in anyway whatsoever. I am going to be a pediatrician and any injustice or pain dealt to a child I take very personally. Because of the money-hungry, unethical and preposterous behaviors of some, our prayerful, carefully planned Ethiopian adoption could be slowed or put on hold. All I and we can do is to pray for the safety of those orphaned in Ethiopia and around the world. We can also pray for those who initiated such actions that their hearts will be changed and they will realize their iniquities.
I do not really know what else to say about this topic, but I thought it deserved discussion.
It really breaks my heart to read posts like this. Please, don't believe everything you read or hear. We are a Christian World Adoption family and this CBS piece (the flawed story originated with an Australian reporter) can hardly be called journalism. Please see here http://www.cwa.org/cbsnews-response.htm and http://www.cwa.org/ethiopia-statement.htm
ReplyDeleteI feel VERY strongly about the ethics of adoption. And I believe agencies SHOULD be held accountable. Our agency is not perfect. Honestly, I don't think any agency is. (Anything involving humans is sure to have its flaws.) But it's hurtful to see other adopting families so willing to believe this story, and turn a skeptical eye on the adoptions of other families.
With all due respect to Amy. There are many families willing to speak about being hurt by unethical adoptions due to CWA and the stories have been repeated for years with many many families. They are unethical. They threaten the ET adoption system and I stand by others that have said that there is NO EXCUSE to use this agency...none.
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