Adoption cat walk?

As the dust settles after last weeks “Adoption catwalk show” in Mato Grosso state, I find myself pondering the strong reactions people had nationally and internationally to the event which hoped to find families for the 18 children who were put on display. The event has been likened to a slave market and concerns about the psychological effect on the children have been raised.

So what do I think? Would I put these children on display, in a centre of consumerism, neatly placed between the latest 4k wide screen smart TV and a beautiful pair of sequined shoes which would be just perfect for next weekend’s wedding? I don’t think I would. I don’t think I sends the right message about adoption to the prospective parents or the children who so desperately need a family. But having said that I also would not be so quick to judge.

Although in the past years we have seen an increase of prospective parents being willing to adopt older children and sibling groups there are still far too few families to provide care for all the children on the adoption register. In fact, there are currently over 5,000 children and teenagers currently waiting for an adoptive family who may never appear.

Having worked in shelters for the past 8 years I believe that the system is hugely under equipped and underfunded to serve these children in the way that they deserve. So much more could be done in community development to prevent the breakdown of families. So much more could be done to rehabilitate families who hope to have their children returned to them. So much more could be done to develop the way we look after kids in the care system and how we prepare them to return to their biological families or as they look forward to adoption. So would I parade these young lives on a catwalk exposing their need and fragility, probably not, but it would be even more scandalous to stand back and do nothing. But for some unknown reason that scandal is not news worthy.

It is plain to see in the pages of the gospels that Jesus poured out his life for the poor and marginalised, and he was indignant when people kept the children away from him. As Christ’s followers, how are we pouring out our lives for today’s poor and marginalised? Or are we passing on the other side in order to avoid facing harsh realities.

I believe that the Church have to follow in the LORDS footsteps, we need to invest ourselves into the development of communities and the prevention of family breakdown. We should pour ourselves out to help rehabilitate and support families as they work towards having their children return home. We must be willing open our homes to foster and adopt these precious young lives who desperately need to experience the love of God.

I pray that those 18 children would find good loving homes, I also pray that this Adoption Catwalk scandal would move the Church to act, to show more of God’s love for the poor and marginalised of our country.