[Mary Mulcahy]

THere is an article in the Guatemalan paper about the Berger law being up for a vote on Friday, Feb. 16, 2007.\
See, guatadopt for additional information.

If passed, it does not sound good

Mary

[Jonni]

I had just seen this, too, Mary. Let's hope and pray it will not pass.

[lburg]

Well, I read the article on guatadopt - and it sounds really bad. I am wondering what exactly would change if the 'protocol of good practices' is enforced? I wonder how it will effect those of us already in process? I'm going to try not to get nervous about this!

[Mindybeth6]

I never said anything...but when we were in Guat picking up Mikayla there was a front page LARGE article about Guatemala tightening the adoption process. In the article it said that if it is passed it would go into effect right away. We translated the article. It didn't give a lot of specifics about the actual proposed law "protocolo of good practices" but in the paper they said they thought it would pass...I, on the other hand, do not think it will. Hang in there everyone...this comes up every once in awhile and it always blows over.
Many Hugs to all of you

[nattyloo]

This news is very disturbing. Praying for all our babies to come home!

[stephjoel99]

I just received an email - the Vice President of the ADA is VERY concerned about this. I will outline below what it would mean if it passes based on what I was just told: {AND JUST TO BE CLEAR SO I DON'T VIOLATE TERMS OF SERVICE, I HAVE PERMISSION TO POST THIS ENTIRE EMAIL - THIS GROUP, THE ADA, HAS ASKED ME TO}

"The ADA are poised to pounce if they do this, but we need to rally together and get our DOS to oppose this. Berger promised not to do this back in the fall and now he is threatening again. He does not have the power to legislate and ADA will file papers against him and will win, but it could hold things up if we don't get our DOS to oppose it.

Stephanie, the protocol would make foster homes illegal. Children would only be able to be in a hogar legally with a judical order, which is like an abandonment and we know how long those take! PGN and a panel of professionals would have to interview the relinquishing mother, and we all know how long they take too. Then if the child was freed for adoption, the child would have to be offered to extended family, Guatemalans and then, and only then could they be offered for foreign adoption. There are no provisions for the care and feeding of these children in the meantime while the "powers that be" decide where they should go!!! No where does the protocol talk about who will care for the child and where the money will come from!!"

They are asking that we call Christopher Lamura, with the US Dept. of State. He is the one in charge of adoptions - we called him before (like hundred of sobbing mommies - and it was EXTREMELY effective b/c they got Pres. Berger to say it was a lie - p.s. it was not and Friday is living proof that it wasn't. Because this is the same, identical bill)

Also, call your Congressmen and US Senators. There is speculation that the adoption world is so embroiled in the "scandal" that is going on with the other news on Guatadopt that we need to really focus on this and rally the troops.

THIS is NOT a drill, people.

[BrandyHagz]

Please remember that discussing attorneys is STILL not allowed. You're welcome to keep your comments general - but reposting communication from attorneys or discussing their comments directly by using their name is not allowed.

This applies to all fee based adoption services related to adoption in Guatemala as well as the US.

FYI - you CAN NOT repost someone's private communication without their consent!

Please refrain from posting emails sent to you - especially emails from your agency/attorney - as those would be considered 'discussion' of the agency/attorney's plans regarding this matter.

[stephjoel99]

I am sorry, but I had her permission to post - and I was communicating something a member of the ADA (defender of adoption group) wanted me to post.

Originally Posted by BrandyHagz

Please remember that discussing attorneys is STILL not allowed. You're welcome to keep your comments general - but reposting communication from attorneys or discussing their comments directly by using their name is not allowed.

This applies to all fee based adoption services related to adoption in Guatemala as well as the US.

FYI - you CAN NOT repost someone's private communication without their consent!

Please refrain from posting emails sent to you - especially emails from your agency/attorney - as those would be considered 'discussion' of the agency/attorney's plans regarding this matter.

[BrandyHagz]

I am sorry, but I had her permission to post - and I was communicating something a member of the ADA (defender of adoption group) wanted me to post.

This was a general warning, posted to everyone - not just you.

(Your post wasn't even up when I started typing)

Of note: Its a good idea to post that you have consent (directly from the person who is consenting is usually best) - in case our crystal ball's are broken

[gwenrenee007]

I don't get this...as if this proces wasn't hard enough we have to deal with this.

I would hope that all cases in progress would be able to go through, but what about all the other children? For the most part I don't think the government can feed, clothe, and care for all the other children that are placed for adoption.

I also don't get what their motivation is, but we can all hope and pray that this doesn't happen.

[GuatMommy2Be]

This is ridiculous. The hague is coming anyway, why bother with this law??? Someone needs to get a hobby.

[audreysmom]

I'm trying to understand all of this. It is up for a vote on Friday? Who is voting - their version of Congress? Can anyone clarify? Also, why would they want to put an end to private foster care - why would they want their government to have to spend money setting up orphanages? What do they have to GAIN? I don't get it.

[stephjoel99]

Originally Posted by audreysmom

I'm trying to understand all of this. It is up for a vote on Friday? Who is voting - their version of Congress? Can anyone clarify? Also, why would they want to put an end to private foster care - why would they want their government to have to spend money setting up orphanages? What do they have to GAIN? I don't get it.

The Guatemalan Congress is voting on President Berger's bill, the Protocol of Good Practices, on Friday.

First Berger tried to do this as an Executive Order in September, I believe?, and the US Dept. of State shot Berger down and just told parents that it was a "lie". It was not a lie. See, the US government can't tell other governments what to do (offically) - but they do, of course - and so Pres. Berger could save face they said that the ADA made it up. Big fat whopper. But who cares - it worked and it went away.

But now Pres. Berger is trying to have Congress pass this law. As an executive order, not only was it illegal, but it was bad public relations. But the US can't do much if the law is passed by their Congress. Nothing at all. Plus, if you must know, Guatemala and the US are in a little war of words over *illegal* Guatemalan immigrants in the US being deported. Of course Pres. Berger wants them to stay here in the United States (some of them do have children that are US citizens) and obviously our country doesn't. So this might even be a "tit for a tat" kind of thing.

And why would they do it if it's free for them to stay in foster care? They are trying to ELIMINATE the notarial system - the attorneys who pay for foster care (through our fees - to do that, they must eliminate private foster care as it currently exists.

[newnan]

how will this affect people in PGN if it's passed...I think I am sick just reading it...

[b_fettes]

Hi,
this is really worrying. We survived the HAgue but it literally took years off my life. Now this......
Can Kevin or anyone else with some background in this area shed some more light on the situation please. I want to know more about how the goverment passes such 'laws' and what is the 'feeling' in the Guat congress surrounding this issue? Does the vice -president have more chance of getting this law passed?
Also what does 'in process' mean? POA signed, FC,PGN, DNA?
The HAgue just stopped everything with no warning, is there a grandfather clause that would apply here and who would it effect?
Any insights at all are really appreciated.
Mary