Madonna adoption fails

By Carla Bevan on Friday 3 April 2009

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Madonna - Celebrity News - Marie Claire

Madonna's attempt to adopt little Mercy James has failed after a Malawian court ruled against the application.

Judge Esmie Chondo said in a ruling: 'I must have to decline to grant the application to Madonna,' following a closed-door hearing on Friday.

Despite receiving the backing of the Malawian government, after the country's information minister, Patricia Kaliati, said the singer was a worthy mother and had already done much to help Malawi in the past few years, the application has been reportedly rejected owing to residency rules.

Madonna touched down in the African country last Sunday but was apparently not in court today to hear the decision. It is not yet known if she will appeal against the ruling.

Reports from the Associated Press explained that the application failed because of a stipulation that prospective adoptive parents must be resident in Malawi for 18 to 24 months.

The law was waived in 2006 when Madonna successfully adopted her Malawian son, David Banda. Mercy James is currently living in the same orphanage in which David resided before his adoption.

According to court papers just released, the A-lister said she was, 'able and willing to securely provide for Chifundo James [whose name translates in English into Mercy James] and make her a permanent and established member of my family'.

Adding: 'To deny Chifundo James the opportunity to be adopted by me could expose her to hardship and emotional trauma which is otherwise avoidable.'

The whole process has attracted endless media attention with many sources, including charities and families in Malawi, criticising the singer's adoption bid, insisting Mercy James would be better off remaining in the care of relatives and, instead, receiving financial support.

SEE MERCY WITH MADONNA AND HER FAMILY HERE

SEE ALL THE PHOTOS OF MADONNA'S MALAWI TRIP HERE

More Madonna

Friday 3 April 2009

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Great news, i'm over the moon for both Madonna and Mercy. If i was a kid i'd love it if Madonna were my Mum. The most famous woman in the world adopting you? Hell yeah, sign me up! All those detractors - jealousy is so unattractive. Imagine if all the filthy rich in the world adopted a poor child with no future... She is doing something marvelous and anyone who is against this cannot be thinking in the best interests of the child. Mercy and David will be loved, adored by the world, educated brilliantly and most of all, they have a bright future. Well done Madonna, you rule!!!
Comment by Defn28 on April 03 10:09

Obviously she doesnt rule that well...it says adoption 'fails'!!
Comment by magic on April 03 12:52

Er - she failed - Defn 28! Which is good, she should not be allowed to go around the world buying up babies.
Comment by Theresa on April 03 12:53

Hear, hear I agree!
Comment by Leanda on April 03 13:26

'To deny Chifundo James the opportunity to be adopted by me could expose her to hardship and emotional trauma which is otherwise avoidable.'

This is just the biggest load of rubbish, she doesn't have to adopt this child to help it. She has mountains of money that she could use to help these children if she wanted to. She has only be thinking of her own ego. I could go really flippy when I think of how much money she has probably already paid to buy these children. Her priorities are ALL WRONG!
Comment by c.cosgrove on April 03 13:27

Defn28. I don't think that jealousy is an option for people who are aginst this adoption. This kid may be in an orphanage, but she still has family that visit her often and obviously care for her deeply but cannot afford to keep her. If Madonna wants to adopt another child from Malawi, then tell her to stop scanning the kids for the cute and pretty ones as they are lined up on display for her to choose, she should choose one that has no family, one that really could do with the help without tearing out the heart of a penniless family. Money is not everything, but it does make the person believe that it gives them ultimate power and the way of paying themselves in and out of whatever they want. I think the right decision was done on this occasion. Why should the law be bent once again when other prospetive, less famous but as competent parents have to do the 18-24 month residency. These are the ones that really do want and deserve to adopt these children
Comment by Tracy on April 03 13:29

Good! Babies are not fashion accessories like shoe and handbags chosen to match your outfit. She should not have been allowed to adopt the first child either.
Comment by Nic on April 03 13:50

As with David Banda, little Chifundo has family who with help could look after her. These children are in orphanages because their mothers are dead and the family can't afford to buy formula milk. After a couple of years being well looked after they go back home to their villages and families and are monitored by the orphanage's outreach programmes to ensure they are well.

Madonna took David to see his family in Lilongwe and he couldn't understand them!!How sad is that for his father and new mother? Who does she think she is? She could use her money to help the villages from where these children came - instead of buying them with less thought than she would a handbag or pair of shoes!!!

My daughter was in Malawi when she adopted little David - Madonna came to the orphanage where she was volunteering (she had 12 children picked out to see in orphanages all over Malawi) and wanted a child who had family - the manager had to tell her at least 4 times that she couldn't have the child she wanted as he had family. She left in a sulk!!! She couldn't even attend court to hear the judge's decision - how arrogant is that!! She obviously thought it was a foregone conclusion. Well done that judge.
Comment by LizC on April 03 16:39

One cannot help but wonder why Madonna feels that the child would not benefit more by being bought up in her own country by relatives with Madonna offering financial support for education etc. If she is truly concerned about the Mercy's welfare then failing to adopt will not stop her from supporting her and her family whom I am sure would welcome her help!!
Comment by Simone Plummer on April 03 18:16

The money that Madonna has put towards Malawi and it's children is helping to support, educate and feed over 250,000 orphans. Is that what 'buying babies' means?
Comment by Jo on April 04 00:19

The Beetles said it so well

'Love is all you need'

If Madonna and her family can love and provide for this child why not!!

Comment by Deirdre Mangan on April 04 11:59

I really don't understand why anyone would expect Madonna to support the Malawi poor. Madonna may be buying kids, but not into slavery, why shouldn't she be allowed to give a child a better life? Sure she could chuck money at the village or family, but who says it would be spent on caring for the kids? History shows this isn't always the case.

Speaking of priorities, a lot of other rich people don't give a damn, at least she's doing something.

Comment by Vic A on April 05 22:21

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