Russian occupation authorities in Luhansk Oblast created an online database offering Ukrainian children for adoption, categorized by physical traits and presented as “orphans.” This database, which features 294 children, allows filtering based on age, eye color, and desired guardianship, raising concerns of child trafficking. Many of the children listed were born in Luhansk Oblast before the occupation and are identified as having Ukrainian citizenship, with some parents reportedly killed or forced to accept Russian identification. The abduction of Ukrainian children, a widely condemned war crime, has led to the International Criminal Court issuing arrest warrants for Russian officials, although the return of the abducted children has faced resistance.
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This report details the Vatican’s practice of sending thousands of Italian children born to unwed mothers to America under the guise of orphan visas during the mid-20th century. Many of these children were not orphans, and their mothers, often pressured or misled by the Church, were unaware of their children’s adoptions. The Church, driven by financial gain and demand from American Catholic families, sometimes even told mothers their children had died. This resulted in the pain and separation of families, as many adoptees later struggled to reunite with their birth mothers, some of whom are still dealing with the aftereffects of the program.
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As a member of the LGBTQ community, the recent passing of an anti-surrogacy law in Italy that effectively bars gay couples from becoming parents strikes a chord with me personally. Surrogacy, as a practice, has always been a controversial subject, with the potential for exploitation and abuse looming large. And while I understand the need for regulation and monitoring to prevent such situations, a complete ban on surrogacy seems like an extreme reaction.
Surrogacy, whether voluntary or compensated, has been a lifeline for many couples struggling with infertility, regardless of their sexual orientation. Banning surrogacy outright denies these individuals the opportunity to fulfill their dream of parenthood.… Continue reading
Having read about the recent incident involving two animal care workers in Indy who were fired for checking adopters’ criminal history, I must say that my initial reaction was one of disbelief and outrage. The fact that these employees were terminated for simply trying to ensure the safety and well-being of the animals in their care is truly mind-boggling. As someone who deeply values the protection of animals and believes in the importance of due diligence when it comes to vetting potential adopters, I am utterly dismayed by the actions taken by the management at the animal shelter.
In the case of Kylee Fox, who discovered that a dog named Champagne was adopted out to a couple with a history of animal cruelty and abandonment violations, it is clear that her intentions were sincere and driven by a genuine concern for the animals.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker