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British and Moroccan Agencies Impose Religious Tests On Adooptive Parents

By Howard M. Friedman

Last Saturday's Times of London reports on the religious demands made upon Robert and Jo Garofalo, a British couple who adopted a Moroccan child in 2006 and later attempted to adopt a second child from the same orphanage. At the time of the first adoption, apparently as required by Moroccan authorities, the couple converted to Islam. When the couple approached their local social services agency in Surrey to obtain permission to adopt a second child, British social workers-- in conducting an initial assessment-- raised questions as to whether the parents doing enough to nurture their first child's Muslim heritage. The social service report stated that in the Garofalo's home, "there is no outward sign that this is a Muslim family." The Garofalo's think that social workers should not be judging their commitment to Islam. Because of objections to various aspects of the required re-assessment by British social services, the Garofalo's have given up on adopting a second child.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on October 20, 2008 (boomark / email).