The National Catholic Register asked me to report on the status quo for Haitian orphans and adoptions in the wake of the earthquake. I was impressed with what the Archdiocese of Miami's Catholic Legal Services proposed. But fears of trafficking in orphans, whether for unauthorized adoptions or for something more sinister are understandable. Both the Haitian and U.S. governments are insisting on properly vetted paperwork. That caution appears understandable in light of recent headlines. But it's frustrating for people who worry about the survival of thousands of children that have lost their parents in the earthquake. One friend who just returned from Port-au-Prince wrote that "normally the media exaggerates a crisis, but that's not true in the case of Haiti."
Update: The USCCB just issued a statement urging the U.S. government and international agencies to guard against unauthorized persons taking charge of Haitian children. The USCCB said that "family reunification" should be thoroughly explored before considering international placements.
Comments