Another list of things
Just reporting on stuff. Most of it conflicts with something else.
- An agency that I'm not very familiar with has told someone with an August 5th LID that they should expect their referral in October.
- Another agency has told their people that they expect the next group of referrals before China closes for a week for their May holiday, but that they do not expect travel approvals before then.
- An agency reports that they asked the CCAA about the slowdown during one of their meetings and that the CCAA said they feared the waiting time could double, but they made it clear that a waiting time of 2 to 3 years would be unacceptable (my note: doubled from when? the six months that it was? or the 11 months that it is now? Doubling it from now puts it at two years, which they said would be unacceptable... so maybe they mean from 6 months, which puts it back inline with the 12months thing)
- Another agency says, after talking to the CCAA at a meeting, that their clients should prepare themselves for a 16 month wait.
- And, this comes from two people - that China is cracking down on religions that they view as cults. I'm told that they are turning down people who are Jehovah's Witnesses. Can anyone else confirm or dis-confirm this one?
posted by RumorQueen at 4/22/2006 08:11:00 AM
24 Comments:
Someone from Australia wrote me about the Jehova's Witness thing. She said that in 2002 they were told JW's would be denied because they do not believe in blood transfusions and this could be a risk to the child if the child ever needs one to save her life.
China bound - just remember this is all conflicting information. I'm personally holding onto hope from the man who got it directly from Director Lu that with a LID of 12/9/05 that they could expect a referral between November and January. Not banking on it, but holding onto hope.
I'm not sure I'm buying the religion rumor. I'm a Tibetan Buddhist and it's in my homestudy. In China you can be arrested for merely carrying a picture of the Dalai Lama so if I've been approved, this one seems a little unrealistic. Plus, I don't see our State Department tolerating such blatant discrimination.
And we have to remember that even the Christian based religions are sensored and altered by the PRC. The "true" Christian faiths gather underground.
I'm just saying, in a nutshell, the Communist officials aren't keen on any organized religion, it goes against the Party ways because it encourages individual thought. To say they're now discriminating against religions they view as "cults", well even Christianity fall into that catagory in their eyes.
Not buying it.
Since China is now under the Hague Convention they are required to have a uniform set of guidelines that must be adhered to. If these guidelines are breached, and this is clearly stated on the State Department's website, the State Department can become involved to "ensure that U.S. citizens are not discriminated against by foreign authorities or courts".
I question if there were other circumstances involved with the family that was involved? Broad discrimination such as this would compromise the program and if our State Department felt that US citizens were being discriminated against, especially given this supposed new rule is not defined anywhere (and this is an important note - defined rules and regulations), they would temporarily shut the adoption doors until it was appropriately defined.
I'm not saying China didn't do it, I'm just saying it's very risky and sort of opens some questionable doors.
You know what? I just did a little research on Jehova's Witnesses and thier belief of not using anything derived from blood in medical treatments (antibodies, plasma and such) may be viewed by the CCAA as possible risk to the child.
I'm not saying its right or wrong, but it would explain why these families were denied.
The CCAA can make any rule they want. Our state department can talk to them about any concerns of discrimination, but that is it. We cannot dictate to them what they can and cannot do.
They do not allow homosexuals to adopt. They are now apparently not allowing anyone who is in a wheelchair to adopt. If they want to define certain religions as cults and keep those people from adopting I'm sure they can do that, too. Not saying they have, just saying they can if they want.
As for the "real Christians" having to go underground, that is not my understanding at all. My understanding is that they do not want any religion that puts a human who is alive in a position above the government. So, Catholicism is out, as are Tibetan Buddhists. But protestant Christianity is fine.
And as for the Hague convention - the US is not a signatory. While other Hague countries may stop adoptions for violations of the treaty, the US would not be obligated to do so.
RQ,
Catholicism is out? My husband and I were raised Catholic (although we're non-practicing right now). When we had our homestudy done, our sw actually pushed us to talk about how we were going to incorporate religion into our daughter's life. We stated we don't go to church, and she said "I'll just write down you attend semi-regularly". She made it seem like we HAD to practice our religion to complete the homestudy. And this wasn't a religious-based agency.
Mary - Catholicism is out for Chinese citizens. NOT for those adopting.
But you're comparing apples to oranges. Medical conditions like a person in a wheelchair or weight is one thing, deeming a religion as a "cult" unless it is for their views on medical treatments, which the CCAA could deem as a risk to the child is another thing entirely.
And I disagree with your assesment, all of my research indicates that Christian places of worship are altered by the PRC and is not the same worship or teachings as in the US. Recently I've been reading about a woman in China who's brother, also a blogger, and who converted to Christianity was abducted off the streets and has been held for almost 60 days.
http://ethanzuckerman.com/haowu/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/19/AR2006041902486.html
I agree with Stephanie 100%. Our church went on a mission trip to China a year ago and had to meet with people in secret places. Very much underground. This was a Christian church so there are definitely ramifications for worshiping freely there. I can see where CCAA would frown upon religion based on culture there. We specifically did not mention religion in our HS or application letter because of this.
No I understood you, but I think this broad way of looking at this is dangerous. If Jehova's Witnesses are seen as cults, then where does it end? How about Moron's, sould they also be considered a cult as well? How about Born Again Christians? And what about Buddhism? If any religion was going to be classified as a cult by Chinese officials this would be the one.
My contention is that I believe the Jehova's Witnesses who were denied is based on thier beliefs of some medical practices and that the Chinese feel this could endanger the children placed with these families. I guess what I'm saying is that until I hear from an accredited agency or the CCAA itself the word "cult" as a reason for denial, we shouldn't jump to conclusions.
I meant to say "Mormon's" and not "Moron's" - really bad place to have a type.
i also just heard that they are now enforcing the 5 year cancer free rule. i do think that this one was on the books at some point, but they seemed to be accepting doctor's letters that attested to a good prognosis. but no more, apparently. this must be devastating for those in remission.
i'm not overweight, a member of a cult, gay, nor do i have cancer, but in this climate, i can't help but fear that they will nail me on something before i make it through review.
Ha! Maybe I should have put "Moron" in my home study as well! I don't know if I even stated my religion in my home study, but I did mention that I have a degree from BYU-Hawaii. Anyway, Mormon and all, I made it through the review room.
Tiffany
LID 8/09
OK, this is just an "I'm wondering" not based on anything. Do you suppose that since the early word was referrals would be mailed last week going thru 6/3 or maybe farther, and now the word is next week going thru 6/6 maybe farther, they turned out to have more baby dossiers available than anticipated and have continued matching. Could this be a sign that orphanages are going to send more in? I'm afraid to be optimistic, but I really want to be.
I had originally discounted that referrals would be mailed a week ahead of the holiday as in the past they were usually sent right before, but if you recall they sent them a week ahead of closing for Chinese New Year this year as well and kind of suprised me when they did so.
My friend LID 5/27, referral last month, received her invitation to travel (TA?) on Friday...so this seems to negate the rumor about travel approvals not going out before the holiday. Anyone else hear about this? Maybe this means referrals mailed too, before the holiday? Any thoughts RQ or anyone else?
Oh, I like that thought!
I can handle a pleasant surprise like that...dare to dream.
It is Monday morning in China. I cannot wait until we start getting more rumors!
The cancer "rumour" is being shared by the agencies - ours informed us via update that the CCAA informed them they would not be accepting applications from people who have had cancer within the last 5 years. As for who it applies to, I wouldn't be able to say, but I would guess if you're past the review room, you'd be safe?
A friend with my same agency, AHH, received their travel arrangements on Friday as well.
Michele
ugh the suspense is killing me...ready to find out how far they got this time around so I can relax until next month's group goes out. haha
8.10 LID
Blogger won't let me publish a new post, so I'll put a comment in and see if it will publish a comment.
I'm not seeing anything new - not referral-rumor-wise, anyway.
Someone emailed me a picture of Director Lu having a tea party with a little girl. He visited a family home in Iceland and had a little tea party with their daughter. Very sweet photo. The family mentions they will be using this photo in their next dossier.
Anyway, I'm still around, just nothing to report on right now. Which is just as well, since I can't publish anything.
Nope, not being censored - other bloggers were having the same problem, I checked it out on the blogger forums.
And, it's back up now, obviously.
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