Outrageous and Sad Moral Failure

Yesterday I learned of the despicable and cowardly act of Torry Ann Hansen, the adoptive mother of 7 year old Artem. Ms. Hansen, after growing frustrated with her recently adopted son, put him on a flight to Moscow by himself, and arranged for a courier in Moscow to deliver him from the airport to the Russian Ministry of Education.

I do not understand how a parent could do something so callous. Children are a precious gift from God, whether by birth or adoption. If this child were your own, no matter how severe the behavioral issues, would you "return" them? Children are not material goods or consumables you purchase. They are a responsibility that require limitless sacrifice. When you adopt a child, you are making a promise to care for and love them. That means getting help when you are in situation that is beyond your capabilities. As a nurse, Ms. Hansen should know this. Sometimes parents do adopt children that they can not raise, and disruptions do occur. This is where professionals step in and help place the child with a family that can raise the child. Sending a child back like a defective product to its manufacturer shows where the mindset of Ms. Hansen was. She was treating Artem as a possession, not as her child that deserved so much more.

The ramifications of Ms. Hansen's actions go well behind her family. She has outraged the Russian government and people, and set off an international incident. I can understand their outrage. Because of what Ms. Hansen has done, the Russian government has suspended all adoptions by Americans. I feel for all the families that will be affected. There are likely several hundred adoptions in progress, with parents who have met their children on their first trip, and are awaiting their second trips to bring their children home. My heart breaks for them, as this is horrible news. I pray that the U.S. Government can help right this horrible wrong, and work with the Russian Government to get adoptions back on track. Today there are 700,000 children in Russian orphanages. All of us as citizens of the world, and children of God, have an obligation to love these children, and find them homes.

What does the future hold for Artem? Because of Ms. Hansen's callous act, he faces some very hard times. First he was taken from his alcoholic mother in Russia and placed in an orphanage. This in itself surely was traumatic. Then to be placed in a new family, and then to have that family give up and send him back to Russia could only be further damaging. Artem will likely be placed in another institution now that he is back in Russia. I pray that a new family adopts him, and that he is given the love and help that he needs and deserves.

There has been little reporting of the possible consequences for Ms. Hansen. Apparently, she may have not done anything technically illegal. She has failed morally though, and her actions will have significant ramifications to so many orphaned children, and their prospective parents. I believe Ms. Hansen should be held accountable by our nation and government. At the very least her punishment should demonstrate to the Russian Government how seriously America's takes the responsibility of caring for adoptive children. If there is no meaningful punishment for Ms. Hansen, it would clearly signal to the Russian's that we don't care about their children.

I pray for young Artem, for all the children in orphanages in Russia and around the world. I pray that they would be shown love, and have families to care for them. I pray for all those who wish to be parents, and all those perspective parents who are trying to adopt from Russia.