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Madonna Confirms Plan to Adopt Mercy James, 2nd Malawian Child
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by Jarrett Martineau | March 31, 2009 at 08:32 am
292 views | 4 Recommendations | 2 comments
UPDATE | March 31, 2009 — After much widespread speculation, Madonna confirmed on Tuesday that she is indeed seeking to adopt 4-year-old Mercy James in Malawi.
She refuted claims, however, that she is "using her fame to speed the process".
Additionally, Madonna brought her son David Banda with her to Malawi to see his biological father for the first time since he left Malawi in 2006.
Madonna said Tuesday that she was following standard procedures in her adoption of a Malawian girl, her first response to accusations that that she is using her fame to speed the process.
The pop superstar also took her 3-year-old adopted son, David, to meet his biological father for the first time since he left Malawi in 2006. She and David later visited the orphanage in Mchinji, a village near the Zambian border, where he once lived.
"Madonna is committed to maintaining an ongoing relationship with David's Malawian roots," said Liz Rosenberg in a statement Tuesday morning
UPDATE | March 30, 2009 — Madonna arrived in Malawi on Monday, with a throng of reporters in tow, over claims that the pop singer returned to the country to pursue a claim seeking the adoption of a second Malawian child, 4-year-old Mercy James.
Madonna refused to speak to the press about this matter, however, instead simply stating that was "amazing" to have returned to the country where she runs a charity and where she adopted her son David Banda in 2008.
Madonna dashed from the airport to an impoverished Malawi village to discuss a school she is planning to build, saying nothing to the hordes of reporters on her trail Sunday about whether she is planning to start the process of adopting a second Malawian child.
The singer, casually dressed in a white fedora, walked in Chinkhota, a village near the capital of the AIDS- and poverty-stricken southern African country, holding the hand of her 12-year-old daughter, Lourdes. Dozens of reporters looked on.
The 50-year-old Madonna refused to answer questions about reports that she was in Malawi to adopt a 4-year-old girl. She said it was “amazing” to be back in the country where she runs a charity and from where she adopted her son David, 3, last year.
Then she rushed away in a convoy of at least three sport utility vehicles, as crowds of shouting, waving children ran after her.
Malawi made it official on Thursday — Madonna is seeking to adopt a second Malawian child.
After her controversial first adoption of son David Banda in 2008, Madge is planning to travel to Malawi this weekend to have her request heard in court.
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UPDATE | Friday, March 27th -- Reuters has confirmed that Madonna is seeking to adopt a 4-year-old girl named Mercy James.
"Her name is Mercy James from Mchinji Home of Hope orphanage. She has no father and mother, they both died... We finished the assessment yesterday in readiness for the courts next week," an official at the ministry of Gender and Child Development told Reuters.
Madonna already has three children: daughter Lourdes Ciccone and sons Rocco Ritchie and David Banda.
Madonna is to trying to adopt a second child from the impoverished African country of Malawi, officials said Thursday.
An official at the Malawi welfare department said the pop star had filed adoption papers.
Another person in Malawi close to the case said Madonna would be in Malawi this weekend, and a court could hear her adoption case as soon as Monday.
A U.S. government official confirmed that an adoption bid by Madonna was under way. They all spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the subject.
Madonna spokeswoman Liz Rosenberg in New York would not comment.
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at 15:43 on March 26th, 2009
Good on her Madonna, rock on girl. She has nothing to prove to anyone about her capabilities as a mother she is a loyal Leo the liones. I admire her courage and her talent.Another child saved from a life of misery is always good news.
at 19:57 on March 26th, 2009
Hello Jarrett,
There are so many children unloved and abandoned here in the U.S., that I wish she would adopt at least one American child, before traveling overseas to adopt in Malawi.
Then again, the life of another child from Malawi, will be hugely improved and possibly saved from starvation, thanks to Madonna.
I don't think that anyone can truly criticize her for her plans, she is after all giving any child the opportunity to go to school, have friends and feel the love of a parent.
~ Swan