I did not watch the CNN program on Guatemalan adoptions last night as Ella and I were sound asleep. I could have taped it with my DVR but chose not to because lately I’ve been too emotional about the adoption scene and can’t tolerate my own ranting and raving. However, this morning I’ve already been stopped by two acquaintances questioning the validity of what they saw on CNN.

In my opinion, parents (and prospective) parents of Guatemalan born children need to arm themselves with information and be good ambassadors for Guatemalan adoptions. When we are asked questions we need to answer calmly and knowledgeably. What we say will probably have far more influence on people than a TV program.

I am very honest with people and admit that there has been corruption; that people do pay bribes, and some mothers are tricked into giving up their children. But I also tell them that I truly believe this despicable and unforgivable phenomenon to be in the minority of cases, and that there are ethical and moral Guatemalan lawyers and adoption agencies. While I’ve still got their attention, I give them the statistics for orphans, malnutrition, poverty, illiteracy and street children in Guatemala. I explain that adoptions may close very soon, and perhaps never reopen; that many children will not thrive and some not even survive if they are not adopted. I tell them that the media has been deplorable, one sided and highly unreliable in its portrayal of Guatemalan adoptions. If they are still with me, I explain why we should never give a CENT to UNICEF.

Meanwhile I am deeply disappointed but not surprised that the Guatemalan congress approved the Ortega Law (Bill 3217) on its third reading. This law is not adoption friendly and frankly may ultimately close adoptions to foreign countries. Susana Luarca talks about this in depth on the ADA website. She is a strong supporter of Bill 3635 that is constitutional and pro adoption, but since it is not supported by UNICEF, the Hague and the US DOS, Guatemalan congressmen (and women) are not eager to support it in this election season.

The good news is that next week the Guatemalan congress will go through the bill point by point and one of the proposed amendments is to grandfather in adoptions in process. Before you go dancing in the street, remember that this MAY happen. I will be tremendously relieved, grateful and eternally thankful if all the children in process will be able to come home, but ultimately the Ortega Bill is a terrible blow to adoption. More on the Ortega Bill and Bill 3217 in my next blog.

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