Madonna adoption proceedings postponed

Madonna adoption proceedings postponed

By Leah Collins, Dose.ca
March 30, 2009 2:40 PM
http://www.canada.com/entertainment/celebrity/dose/story.html?id=1444832

Madonna may have a new addition to her family in less than a week.

The pop superstar appeared at a Malawi courthouse Monday morning seeking to adopt a child, widely believed to be a three-year-old girl named Mercy James. Following the hearing, Reuters reports that the adoption case has been adjourned until Friday, when a judge will make her ruling.

Though Madonna was photographed leaving the courthouse, she declined to comment to reporters and court officials have not revealed further information.

According to UK tabloid The Sun, the little girl’s grandmother, Lucy Chekechiwa wants to fight Madonna for custody – although it’s unclear whether Chekichiwa was in court today. “Why doesn’t this singer pick other children,” she told the tabloid. “It is stealing. I want to go to court. I won’t let her go.”

Madonna’s been in Malawi -- with kids Lourdes, Rocco and David in tow -- since Sunday, People reports.

Madonna came under fire after adopting her youngest son, David Banda, in 2007. Groups around the world, including UK charity Save the Children, accused the star of using her celebrity to skirt the country's adoption laws. According to US Weekly, Malawi law requires prospective parents to undergo assessment for 18-24 months before adopting a child.

Madonna has responded to these claims by telling Reuters that she hoped the fuss made over Banda's adoption would encourage more people to adopt children from the African country, which counts approximately 1 million children as being orphaned by AIDS.

Since arriving in his home country with Mama Madge, three-year-old David has had the chance to visit his biological father, US Weekly reports. The boy was brought to an orphanage after his mother passed away.

Mercy James, the young girl Madonna reportedly plans to adopt, was similarly brought to an orphanage after her 18-year-old mother died. According to Reuters, her father is believed to be alive.

Since arriving in Malawi, People reports that Madonna has spent time visiting the Chinkhota village. According to the mag, the star plans to build a multi-million dollar Oprah-style girls school in the town.
© Copyright (c) dose.ca