(Deu 24:17 ESV) You shall not pervert the justice due to the sojourner or to the fatherless …
A couple who have been friends of mine for many years — Greg and Tesney Davis — are trying to adopt a Down’s Syndrome baby from Russia. They have one child by birth but feel a calling from God to reach out to a Down’s Syndrome infant. Through a series of circumstances, they were led to Russia and to a baby there named Kirill.
The judge who must approve the adoption found them to be a well-qualified family. Tesney is a social worker and has considerable experience working with Down’s children.
And yet the judge refused to grant the adoption because the baby is “not socially adaptable” due to his “medical condition” and he was better off in an institution than in a home with a family. The judge urged them to adopt a “typical” child instead.
The couple have 10 days to appeal, but the lawyer who’d been handling their case, and who was very sympathetic to their efforts, has refused to handle the case. The powers-that-be let it be known that handling the appeal would not be good for his career.
The adoption agency suggested that the only solution for them would be to bring political pressure on the Russia government by publicizing this outrageous, inhuman decision. If the appeal fails, it’s likely there will be no Down’s Syndrome adoptions from Russia for many years.
I’m looking for help finding contacts in national media outlets that might take up the story. We have plenty of ideas for what media would be helpful. What we need are contacts — people with The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, CNN, CBS, or similar national media that can help us get the word out quickly.
I can be reached at jfguin(at)comcast(dot)net if anyone has contact information that can help with the cause.
The judge’s attitude reflects the broader Russian cultural attitude, which is very negative toward the mentally disabled. The Associated Press reports that Russia is —
a country with a history of pressuring parents into placing mentally disabled children in institutions, where abuse and neglect were rampant.
Although attitudes are slowly changing, activists say that the vast majority of children with Down syndrome still end up in the state’s care and that cruelty still abounds in orphanages.
Whether you have national media contacts or not, please keep Greg and Tesney in your prayers.
I'd contact Albert Mohler. (http://www.albertmohler.com/contact/) He's not only a nationally known figure (and President of the Southern Baptist Seminary), but he's extremely pro-life (especially when it comes to abortion with unborn children who may have disabilities like Down's Syndrome) and passionate about adoption.
This family has done a number of international special-needs adoptions and may have useful resources: http://www.allourboys.com/
I've reposted to my FB; my friends include some folks who may have useful contacts.
You may want to contact Bobby Ross from the Christian Chronicle. He has worked for the Associated Press and has contact with Lester Holt of NBC. Knowing Bobby, I think he would love to help in this kind of situation.
All,
My understanding is that certain powers in Russia have gotten wind of the judge's shameful decision and are working to reverse it. Please pray that this is so.
As I said to Tesney this morning, the difficulties they are facing may well be God's means of changing the Russian heart toward the disabled.
Contact WORLD magazine.
This is one practical reason that I tend to ignore calls for Christians to avoid the political process. Followers of Jesus Christ can be salt and light in these kinds of situations.
Terry,
We can't avoid all politics, because the political world is often in need of redemption. What we can't do is find our confidence in politics. Politics, government, and nations aren't saviors, and we aren't called to have faith in any of them. And we'll not win the world for Jesus through political institutions. The Second Amendment is not the path to the Kingdom.
And yet I disagree with Lipscomb. We no more ignore politics, because government is fallen, than we ignore disease and warfare and poverty. Rather, our place is to be a prophetic voice calling governments to greater righteousness. And when the government refuses to allow a loving couple to adopt a disabled child, we follow in the steps of Isaiah —
I agree completely, Jay.
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