AdoptionBlogger.Com

Virginia: Comment Period Extended

The Virginia State Board of Social Services agreed to extend the comment period on adoption regulations that lack protections against gay and lesbian families.

The board was close to approving regulations that banned discrimination but voted against the protections earlier this year after religious groups complained.

 

 

 

Embryo Missing: Family Suing for Financial Damages and DNA Testing Other Children?

A family in California recently sued their infertility clinic after discovering that the clinic could not account for the whereabouts of their stored embryo.

In addition to seeking financial damages, the family may seek an unusual remedy of asking the Court to order the DNA testing of other children born with the clinic's assistance to determine if the couple's embryo was mistakenly used.

 

 

California: New Legislation Proposed

New legislation has been proposed in California to enhance adoption and reduce costs.

Illinois: Catholic Charity Cannot Discriminate With State Funding

The State of Illinois recently enacted a civil union bill, effective in June 2011, that banned discrimination based on sexual orientation.  Catholic Charities, recipient of over four decades of funding from the State of Illinois to provide foster care and adoption services, tried to continue receiving state funds without complying with state law.

Catholic Charities alleged that the Religious Freedom Protection act and the Civil Unions Act permitted Catholic Charities to refuse to work with openly gay families and instead refer them elsewhere.  The State of Illinois disagreed and cancelled their contract causing the transfer of 2000 children to agencies In Illinois that do not discriminate.

Catholic Charities sued and argued that the act provided an exemption.  The state defended the act and argued that the exemption narrowly applies to religious clergy who do not want to officiate civil unions.

The Court focused on the property rights issues and did not rule on the religious aspects of the case.  In the ruling, the Judge held that the four decade contract between the state and Catholic Charities did not create a property right entitling Catholic Charities to automatic contract renewal.   Thus, the contract could be cancelled.

 

Guatemala: Decree Issued To Assist Adoption Finalizations

A decree issued in Guatemala may assist families with pending adoptions.  The decree is effective for one year and mandates that the family seeking to adopt the child demonstrate a prolonged relationship and no involvement in adoption fraud among other requirements.

In 2007, alleged fraud in Guatemala's adoption system forced adoptions to a halt leaving 900 families in limbo.  In four year, the number of families waiting has decreased to approximately 400.  

Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana has been instrumental in assisting families left in limbo and visited Guatemala recently.

 

China: Tightening Rules on Abandoned Children

Childing is strengthening rules on abandoned children who are subsequently adopted. 

Israel: Deceased Woman's Family Preserve Her Eggs

The family of a seventeen year old woman declared brain dead convinced the authorities in Israel to remove and freeze her eggs.  

If fertilized, the preservation of the eggs could possibly lead to the first known published case of retrieval, storage, and fertilization of eggs from a deceased woman utilized to create an embryo.  

Israel and other countries have experience with sperm from deceased men utilized to fertilize eggs.  This case is distinquished because that same technology could be utilized to allow the family of a deceased woman to possibly have a child derived from the egg of their deceased relative.

In order to do this, the family must obtain the Court's permission in Israel.  It is unknown how the Court in Israel would react.

Vietnam: New US Ambassador Appointed

Senator Mary Landrieu dropped her hold on David Shear as U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam after he promised to make adoption and custody issues one of his top priorities.

Ethiopia: Licenses Revoked At Several Orphanages

State Department announced revocation of orphanage licenses in Ethiopia.

Mexico: Complicated Process

The process to adopt a child born in Mexico by a U.S. Citizen involves cooperation between the United States and the national and local governments of Mexico.  

A recent notice reflects that only two agencies have received national acceptance and that national acceptance does not automatically equal acceptance by the local government.