Angelina Jolie persuaded Madonna to adopt African baby

[Elvira]

22/10/06
By Mike Parker

MADONNA pulled out of adopting a US child just three months before whisking one-year-old Malawi boy David Banda out of Africa.

She and husband Guy Ritchie filled out an application at a California agency – and even underwent an evaluation process as adoptive parents.

But they abandoned plans to take a US baby from the Vista del Mar Child And Family Services Clinic after dinner with Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt.

The Hollywood couple, who adopted African daughter Zahara last year, told Madonna and Ritchie they should instead choose a Third World infant.

According to a source close to Jolie, the actress – who chose Africa again to give birth to her and Pitt’s natural daughter, Shiloh – pressed home the idea in a series of e-mails to Madonna and over dinner.

Last night, as the furore mounted over her “fast track” taking of David and her plans to adopt a little Malawian sister for him, the source revealed: “Both Brad and Angelina sold Madonna and Guy on the idea of creating a global family like theirs by taking kids out of Third World poverty.

“Angelina later said she e-mailed Madonna several times to offer advice and tell her how happy she and Brad are with Zahara and Maddox, the boy she took from Cambodia.”

UN goodwill ambassador Jolie also pointed out how Madonna could use her fame – and money – to raise the global profile of an impoverished nation.

At that point, Madonna, 48, and Ritchie, 38, abandoned plans to adopt from the Vista del Mar centre, which handles children from “ghetto” areas.

Yesterday a source there said: “They were well into the adoption process. They were fingerprinted and went through an interview as part of our evaluation procedures. We were surprised when they lost interest. They seemed incredibly keen.”

The couple had made little secret of plans earlier this year to find a US baby brother or sister for son Rocco, six, and Madonna’s 10-year-old daughter Lourdes, but after dinner with Pitt and Jolie, they decided on the Third World.

US agencies expressed anger at the decision. Merle Hoff-man, of Choices, said: “It’s like going to an animal rescue shelter and picking the cutest.”
Katie Ann McCubbin, from a west coast agency, added: “There are plenty of needy children in America she could have chosen. Her husband is British. Don’t they have babies to adopt there?”

Some 65 human rights groups have accused Madonna of flouting Malawian laws, which insist adoptive parents must stay in the country for 18 months so social workers can monitor them, but a Madonna insider said yesterday: “She swears she followed every procedure. She and Guy are upset this has prompted such an outcry.”

Source: http://express.lineone.net/news_detail.html?sku=596

[bite me spidey]

A child in need is a child in need. I know that the children in third-world-countries are worse off, but I think it's kind of shitty to go through the adoption process to adopt a child, but then turn around and adopt from another country. That child is still in need of a good home....

[Seapharris7]

I don’t believe a word of it. Madonna may have gotten the idea from Jolie & co, but I doubt they "pulled out of an American Agency" to adopt illegally another child.

I don’t care how long the process and "ridiculous", as some say, the rules are in adopting in America, celebs STILL get top priority!
Seriously, most of the time single parents, much less homosexuals, are way at the BOTTOM of the list of adoptions. Or I have heard that those type of people are not only last priority, but often times the children they are aloud to rise are the “BOTTOM” such as children infected with AIDS, born crack addicted, or would be a ward of the state otherwise.

This seemed to be the case at least with our only gay friends who actively sought adoption. After 5 years together, they wanted a baby. After 8 years of being on a waiting list with three agencies, the ONE option they were given was a 12th child born to a prostitute with herpes. AND there was a possibility the baby would be born addicted (the agency called our friend when the woman went into labor). They had 24 hours to decide, and they said yes. The child was indeed addicted to Meth, and is now about 2 years old and still has trouble crawling.
I don’t think I am talking out my a$$, my friend also said that they had heard several of the same stories from their fellow gay friends who looked into adoption. Maybe that isn’t the case everywhere, but I do know that 8 years is a really long time to wait for a child when you are truly offering a loving home, make the average or above average income for a household of 3+.

My point is, people who are truly wanting to love and care for a child will WAIT. Just because they think it’s “too long, too much paperwork/money, etc” doesn’t mean they go outside the country and basically abduct a child to call their own. That seems to be the exclusive right that celebrities have.
And with celebrities, in America, they are, AGAIN, top priority. Regardless if they are gay, a single parent, or even married - seriously, how long do celeb’s marriages really last?? So, my point being, there really seems to be no way that any agency in the US was seriously hold out on Madonna’s application to adopt. I believe any agency would jump at the chance to even mention they assisted the great Madonna herself in adopting a child.

They may have even sent her an email with their pictures too…

[mistify]

I just think if the child will benefit -who cares either way.......

[Reptillycus]

Seapharris7, I agree totally, sorry about your friends who suffered so much when they had so much to give

[Moomoo]

Originally Posted by Seapharris7

I don’t believe a word of it. Madonna may have gotten the idea from Jolie & co, but I doubt they "pulled out of an American Agency" to adopt illegally another child.

I don’t care how long the process and "ridiculous", as some say, the rules are in adopting in America, celebs STILL get top priority!
Seriously, most of the time single parents, much less homosexuals, are way at the BOTTOM of the list of adoptions. Or I have heard that those type of people are not only last priority, but often times the children they are aloud to rise are the “BOTTOM” such as children infected with AIDS, born crack addicted, or would be a ward of the state otherwise.

This seemed to be the case at least with our only gay friends who actively sought adoption. After 5 years together, they wanted a baby. After 8 years of being on a waiting list with three agencies, the ONE option they were given was a 12th child born to a prostitute with herpes. AND there was a possibility the baby would be born addicted (the agency called our friend when the woman went into labor). They had 24 hours to decide, and they said yes. The child was indeed addicted to Meth, and is now about 2 years old and still has trouble crawling.
I don’t think I am talking out my a$$, my friend also said that they had heard several of the same stories from their fellow gay friends who looked into adoption. Maybe that isn’t the case everywhere, but I do know that 8 years is a really long time to wait for a child when you are truly offering a loving home, make the average or above average income for a household of 3+.

My point is, people who are truly wanting to love and care for a child will WAIT. Just because they think it’s “too long, too much paperwork/money, etc” doesn’t mean they go outside the country and basically abduct a child to call their own. That seems to be the exclusive right that celebrities have.
And with celebrities, in America, they are, AGAIN, top priority. Regardless if they are gay, a single parent, or even married - seriously, how long do celeb’s marriages really last?? So, my point being, there really seems to be no way that any agency in the US was seriously hold out on Madonna’s application to adopt. I believe any agency would jump at the chance to even mention they assisted the great Madonna herself in adopting a child.

They may have even sent her an email with their pictures too…

I'm sorry your friends had to go through that process, and I have heard of other similar incidents though not quite as bad as this. It does seem amazing that there are people willing to adopt a needy child and it should take 8 years, there are so many children and this process is ridiculous and long and draining and stressful. I also believe (although I have no proof) that celebrities probably have a vastly easier time of adopting and that perhaps they are prioritised ahead of the rest or their lawyers are very good at speeding up the process that usually drags out into years for those who don't have the bucks or status.

[bite me spidey]

Originally Posted by Seapharris7

I don’t believe a word of it. Madonna may have gotten the idea from Jolie & co, but I doubt they "pulled out of an American Agency" to adopt illegally another child.

I don’t care how long the process and "ridiculous", as some say, the rules are in adopting in America, celebs STILL get top priority!
Seriously, most of the time single parents, much less homosexuals, are way at the BOTTOM of the list of adoptions. Or I have heard that those type of people are not only last priority, but often times the children they are aloud to rise are the “BOTTOM” such as children infected with AIDS, born crack addicted, or would be a ward of the state otherwise.

This seemed to be the case at least with our only gay friends who actively sought adoption. After 5 years together, they wanted a baby. After 8 years of being on a waiting list with three agencies, the ONE option they were given was a 12th child born to a prostitute with herpes. AND there was a possibility the baby would be born addicted (the agency called our friend when the woman went into labor). They had 24 hours to decide, and they said yes. The child was indeed addicted to Meth, and is now about 2 years old and still has trouble crawling.
I don’t think I am talking out my a$$, my friend also said that they had heard several of the same stories from their fellow gay friends who looked into adoption. Maybe that isn’t the case everywhere, but I do know that 8 years is a really long time to wait for a child when you are truly offering a loving home, make the average or above average income for a household of 3+.

My point is, people who are truly wanting to love and care for a child will WAIT. Just because they think it’s “too long, too much paperwork/money, etc” doesn’t mean they go outside the country and basically abduct a child to call their own. That seems to be the exclusive right that celebrities have.
And with celebrities, in America, they are, AGAIN, top priority. Regardless if they are gay, a single parent, or even married - seriously, how long do celeb’s marriages really last?? So, my point being, there really seems to be no way that any agency in the US was seriously hold out on Madonna’s application to adopt. I believe any agency would jump at the chance to even mention they assisted the great Madonna herself in adopting a child.

They may have even sent her an email with their pictures too…

That's absolutely revolting, what happened to your friends. Jesus... That really disgusts me about politics in general, and the legal system. It's so hypocritical and disgusting.

[Elvira]

There certainly seems to be a different set of rules for the wealthy. However,
wealthy same sex couples are banned from adopting in the state of Florida.

Rosie O’Donnell had a foster child named Mia who had emotional problems which were
caused by her abusive past. Rosie still wanted to formally adopt Mia, but Florida law
bars all adoptions by gay single parents or same-sex couples.

Mia continued to exhibit symptoms of past abuse and was removed from Rosie’s care
and enrolled at a treatment center for her emotional problems.

Rosie was allowed to be this child’s foster parent but could not legally adopt her.
How does this make sense?

[Bellatheball]

Originally Posted by Seapharris7

I don’t believe a word of it. Madonna may have gotten the idea from Jolie & co, but I doubt they "pulled out of an American Agency" to adopt illegally another child.

I don’t care how long the process and "ridiculous", as some say, the rules are in adopting in America, celebs STILL get top priority!
Seriously, most of the time single parents, much less homosexuals, are way at the BOTTOM of the list of adoptions. Or I have heard that those type of people are not only last priority, but often times the children they are aloud to rise are the “BOTTOM” such as children infected with AIDS, born crack addicted, or would be a ward of the state otherwise.

This seemed to be the case at least with our only gay friends who actively sought adoption. After 5 years together, they wanted a baby. After 8 years of being on a waiting list with three agencies, the ONE option they were given was a 12th child born to a prostitute with herpes. AND there was a possibility the baby would be born addicted (the agency called our friend when the woman went into labor). They had 24 hours to decide, and they said yes. The child was indeed addicted to Meth, and is now about 2 years old and still has trouble crawling.
I don’t think I am talking out my a$$, my friend also said that they had heard several of the same stories from their fellow gay friends who looked into adoption. Maybe that isn’t the case everywhere, but I do know that 8 years is a really long time to wait for a child when you are truly offering a loving home, make the average or above average income for a household of 3+.

My point is, people who are truly wanting to love and care for a child will WAIT. Just because they think it’s “too long, too much paperwork/money, etc” doesn’t mean they go outside the country and basically abduct a child to call their own. That seems to be the exclusive right that celebrities have.
And with celebrities, in America, they are, AGAIN, top priority. Regardless if they are gay, a single parent, or even married - seriously, how long do celeb’s marriages really last?? So, my point being, there really seems to be no way that any agency in the US was seriously hold out on Madonna’s application to adopt. I believe any agency would jump at the chance to even mention they assisted the great Madonna herself in adopting a child.

They may have even sent her an email with their pictures too…

Well God bless the two of them for choosing adoption. I'm sure that child didn't come to them by accident. All of these stories about Kate Moss and whatshisname having a child make my stomach turn. You take a beautiful little baby and immediately inflict all of the world's crap on to him/her the minute they come into this world. It's just disgusting. Thank God there are people like your friends who are willing to care for an "imperfect" child.

That said, I find it hard to get angry about anyone who wants to adopt a child. As much as I bang on AJ, I do think some or most of her intentions are nobel. I don't think Madonna's are but then who am I to say?