Film Pros
What do you guys think of this? I have mixed feelings..
LILONGWE, Malawi — In a surprise move, a judge on Friday rejected Madonna's request to adopt a second child from Malawi even though the country's child welfare minister had supported Madonna's application to raise the 3-year-old girl.
Madonna's lawyer, Alan Chinula, refused to discuss the ruling further, saying only that he had passed it on to the pop star, who was in the southern African nation but did not attend Friday's court hearing. Madonna can appeal the decision to Malawi's Supreme Court.
A judge who did not make the ruling but saw it and another lawyer present when the ruling was made said Madonna was rejected because of residency rules. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the case.
Malawi adoption regulations require that prospective parents live in the southern African nation for at least 18 months.
The residency rule was waived in 2006, when Madonna was allowed to take her adopted son, David, to London before his adoption was finalized in 2008. It was not clear why Judge Esme Chombo ruled differently Friday. Another judge had handled Madonna's previous adoption case.
When Madonna adopted David, she was still married to British film director Guy Ritchie. Their divorce became final earlier this year, and she was attempting to adopt 3-year-old Chifundo "Mercy" James as a single mother.
There was no immediate comment on the situation from Madonna's spokeswoman in New York.
Madonna's efforts to adopt had drawn criticism from some activists who said the little girl would be best off with relatives, and praise from other residents, who credited her with giving the girl opportunities not widely available in the impoverished nation.
In court papers made public Friday, Madonna said Chifundo's grandmother was unable to care for her. She promised to make Mercy a permanent part of her family and spare her the "hardship and emotional trauma" of life as an orphan.
The girl's mother, according to the affidavit, died at age 14 not long after her baby was born Jan. 22, 2006. There was no mention of the father in the affidavit. The mother's brother is listed as having consented to the adoption.
"I am able and willing to securely provide for Chifundo James and make her a permanent and established member of my family," Madonna said. "To deny Chifundo James the opportunity to be adopted by me could expose her to hardship and emotional trauma which is otherwise avoidable."
Malawi's child welfare minister had endorsed Madonna's adoption application.
"We have close to 2 million orphans in Malawi who need help," Women and Child Welfare Development Minister Anna Kachikho told The Associated Press. "We can't look after all of them as a country. If people like Madonna adopt even one such orphan, it's one mouth less we have to feed."
Orphans usually are taken in by their extended families in Africa, but AIDS and other diseases have taken a toll on those who might have traditionally provided support. In villages across the continent, frail elderly grandmothers do their best to care for children, but many end up in orphanages or on the streets.
Malawi, with a population of 12 million, is among the poorest countries in the world, with rampant disease and hunger, aggravated by periodic droughts and crop failure.
The U.N. says 1 million Malawian children have lost one or both parents, about half of them to AIDS, and estimates 18 million African children will have lost a parent to AIDS by 2010.
Critics accused Madonna of using her fame and money to fast-track the adoption process, but the singer said she had followed standard procedures. She faced similar allegations in 2006 when she brought home David, who is now 3.
A coalition of non-governmental organizations called the Human Rights Consultative Committee had criticized Madonna's adoption attempts, saying that adoption should be the last resort and that children need to be taken care of by their own family.
"Mercy James is a child who has her extended close family members alive and we urge Madonna to assist the child from right here," the coalition said earlier this week.
Yet others from Malawi had applauded Madonna, saying the adoption would give Mercy enormous opportunities.
Madonna first traveled to Malawi in 2006 while filming a documentary on the devastating poverty and AIDS crisis. On this trip, she has been accompanied by her three children: 3-year-old David, 12-year-old daughter Lourdes and 8-year-old son Rocco.
The four have visited an orphanage where David once lived and David also saw his biological father for the first time since he left Malawi in 2006.
Madonna and Lourdes also visited a village in Malawi this week and looked over plans to build a new school there. The singer has several charity projects in Malawi.
DENIED! Madonna's Malawi Adoption Request Rejected By Court
Till the roof comes off. Till the lights go out. Till my legs give out, can’t shut my mouth. Till the smoke clears out and my high wears out. I'ma rip this shit till my bone collapse..
- EMINEM - Till I collapse
Film Pros
On one hand I see how people do not like Madonna adopting from Malawi. But I see the fact that a child will have an opportunity that would not be available to her otherwise. It is not like she is abusing or making money off of these adoptions. I don't see what the issue is here...
Have those making the most noise tried to adopt and couldn't? Or are they willing to take care of the child in question? Or do they think being in an orphanage is better than be adopted by Madonna?? I don't get it..
Last edited by sidney; 04-03-2009 at 12:29 PM.
Till the roof comes off. Till the lights go out. Till my legs give out, can’t shut my mouth. Till the smoke clears out and my high wears out. I'ma rip this shit till my bone collapse..
- EMINEM - Till I collapse
:)
Right...
"Jesus asked him, saying, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,” because many demons had entered him".
Fada b4 Fada!
Exact thoughts I just posted on NIA. If the adoption is in the interest of the child, why stand in the way? It isn't like you're making her life better in the orphanage...Morons...Originally Posted by sidney
Film Pros
I think the concern, though, is that Madonna attempted to circumvent the proper procedures for adoption. And I can understand her being denied on that count.
"Anyone can make the simple complicated; creativity is making the complicated simple." - Charles Mingus
"My ultimate vocation in life is to be an irritant, someone who disrupts the daily drag of life just enough to leave the victim thinking there's maybe more to it all than the mere hum-drum quality of existence." - Elvis Costello
Fada b4 Fada!
The proper procedure requires residency in the place for a number of months...How is Madonna going to be resident there, TS? Shouldn't they have taken into consideration situations like this one...
youwillbeok!!!
Abeg make she come adopt me jooor! were she dey sef, make i go apply....
...Dear Lord, thank you for making each and every part of my being. For eyes that see, ears that hear, fingers that feel, a brain that thinks and a heart that beats. Forgive me when i complain about your workmanship and wish for something different. Help me to always remember that i am your workmanship and you make no mistakes. Thank you Lord that i matter to you, in Jesus name....Amen!
Film Pros
Right.. Like in Malawi they follow all the rules to the letter... I think it is grandstanding on the part of the Malawian authorities..
Till the roof comes off. Till the lights go out. Till my legs give out, can’t shut my mouth. Till the smoke clears out and my high wears out. I'ma rip this shit till my bone collapse..
- EMINEM - Till I collapse
Master Group
i think africans are still not comfortable with the adoption issue. because if this kid is going to get a better life with madonna why not give madonna the chance, if the officials are in doubt, they should look at the first adoption and see if the child is being treated well and use that as a yardstick for allowing this second adoption.
Film Pros
Right!
Till the roof comes off. Till the lights go out. Till my legs give out, can’t shut my mouth. Till the smoke clears out and my high wears out. I'ma rip this shit till my bone collapse..
- EMINEM - Till I collapse
Naija Ruler!
Madonna, na wa! Angelina Jolie, Calista Flockhart, Steven Spielberg, Mia Farrow, Casey Johnson and countless others have adopted children from various regions of the world without much drama but not Madonna Ciccone. Drama just follows her either of her deliberate doing or unconsciously.
It's quite magnanimous of her to want to help but why does she keep trying to adopt children with living relatives? Abi, she want guarantee that owner dey in case she wan refund the pickin or na wetin? That's the only part of this process that I don't get. I think she would have less drama if she didn't have fathers and grandmothers who are protesting, albeit some from the side of their mouths like David Banda's father...the grandmother, I think means it when she says she's not letting her grandkid go.
Sha, like Chelsea Handler said last night taking the words right out of my mouth, can you imagine that girl Mercy at 18 reading about this episode? Chei, to find out that she could have been growing up in the lap of luxury BUT for her grandmother....lawd! It would be a weird feeling, like I love you grandma BUT DAMMMMMMMMMMMNnnnnnn I could have been living on Central Park West and jet setting across the globe on private jets with Gwyneth Paltrow as one of my aunties? WHAtttttttttttttttttt?
"Love all, trust a few. Do wrong to none.
William Shakespeare, "All's Well That Ends Well", Act 1 Scene 1
Greatest English dramatist & poet (1564 - 1616)
Disappointment is inevitable but Misery is optional
Master Group
yes sidney that is what i think, i am sure the life this kid will get with madonna will help her to live out well all her potentials and become whatever she wants. i don't think she can get this opportunity in Malawi, as much as i agree that the right procedures must be followed, it should not block this opportunity for the child. how you dey sid?
Film Pros
My dear I dey... I agree with you completely...
Till the roof comes off. Till the lights go out. Till my legs give out, can’t shut my mouth. Till the smoke clears out and my high wears out. I'ma rip this shit till my bone collapse..
- EMINEM - Till I collapse
Master Group
I really don't have mixed feelings i think that she just got out of a divorce and then she is like .....wooho lets go to africa and buy a baby!!!!!!!........seems to me like she is adopting to make herself feel better and not in the interest of the Mercy johnson baby.................
Film Pros
Really?! This is what you think she is doing when she has already adopted from the country 3 years ago?!?I really don't have mixed feelings i think that she just got out of a divorce and then she is like .....wooho lets go to africa and buy a baby!!!!!!!........seems to me like she is adopting to make herself feel better and not in the interest of the Mercy johnson baby.....
Wow......
Till the roof comes off. Till the lights go out. Till my legs give out, can’t shut my mouth. Till the smoke clears out and my high wears out. I'ma rip this shit till my bone collapse..
- EMINEM - Till I collapse
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