PaxWatch: Angelina Jolie's adoption agency says Pax's adoption was not fast-tracked

Adoptions From The Heart, the US based adoption agency that Angelina Jolie used in her adoption of her new son Pax Thien Jolie, made the followingstatement in response to all the rumors about the adoption being fast-tracked due to her celebrity status.  Heidi Gonzalez, Vietnam Adoption Coordinator, said:

In applying to adopt 3-yr-old Pax Thien, Ms. Joliefollowed the same course as all prospective adoptiveparents who apply to our Vietnam program. Throughouther adoption process, which began in the summer of2006, she has received no preferential treatment fromthe Vietnamese government or Adoptions From The Heart,and contrary to earlier reports, her application wasnot fast tracked.

Despite rumors that she chose her child, Ms. Joliereceived a referral, just like any other parentadopting from Vietnam. In late 2006, she was referreda child who had been legally determined to beavailable for adoption and who fit within theparameters for which she had been approved to adopt.She accepted the first and only referral given to her.

In addition, we can confirm the statement given byNguyen Van Trung, Director of Tam Binh Orphanage, thatMs. Jolie has neither made, nor promised to make, anyfinancial contributions to his orphanage. AdoptionsFrom The Heart celebrates the miracle of adoption withthe Jolie-Pitt family, as we do with all of ourclients, and wish them much joy.

They also said that Angelina was referred to their agency by Jane Aronson, MD, a New York-based pediatrician who specializes in adoption medicine and treated Zahara.

Between 1995-2003 (when Vietnam closed the program), Adoptions from the Heart placed 250 children.  Since April 2006, 30 families have completed adoptions through them and 22 are in the process of adopting. They work with four orphanages in Vietnam. In addition to facilitating adoptions, Adoptions from the Heart has provided financial support to the Tam Binh orphanage (where Angelina adopted Pax), funding construction of a new emergency room at Go Vap orphanage, creation of a “milk
room” that connects to the infant room at Thi Nghe orphanage, and the purchase of new
furniture for the Picasso orphanage. 

For more information on the agency, visit Adoptions From The Heart.

Source: Adoptions From The Heart via JustJared.com

Thanks to CBB Reader Faye.

Comments

I admire this woman!

- andy on March 16th, 2007

Isn’t it amazing how, the truth has been revealed after all the accusation and none of the naysayers have anyything to post on this tread….

- Adore1 on March 16th, 2007

Adore1,

I noticed that too. The truth always comes out in the end but there will always be those who don’t want to believe it.

- Suzanne on March 17th, 2007

Adore1: I noticed the same thing. I think it’s really amusing – in a sad sort of way or course – how so many people are so quick to judge this family about aspects of their lives that we as the public know nothing about. And then when the truth comes out there are so few who are big enough people to admit they were wrong. I just love watching this family prove all the critics wrong.

- Grace on March 17th, 2007

I find it more amazing that this statement does nothing to address the fact that Angelina adopted as a single parent when everyone knows she has a live-in partner and Vietnam does not allow unmarried couples to adopt.

- Lauren on March 17th, 2007

Lauren, I don’t believe anyone’s ever answered whether Vietnamese adoption guidelines PROHIBIT adoption by unmarried couples, or whether there’s simply no category in the paperwork for that. I’m inclined to believe it’s the later.

- Fynn on March 18th, 2007

Actually Lauren is does address that. It clearly states in the article that “Ms. Jolie followed the same course as all prospective parents who apply to our Vietnam program.” So the rules were obviously not put aside for Angelina.

- Grace on March 18th, 2007

According to People Magazine, the Washington Post, the BBC, and numerous other sources, unmarried couples in Vietnam are prohibited from adopting, so unless every single one of these sources has their facts wrong, Angelina cheated the system so that she could adopt from Vietnam.

- Lauren on March 18th, 2007

Lauren: Whether or not unmarried couples are allowed to adopt is beside the point, because Angelina and Brad did not adopt. Angelina did, and she is legally single, and single people are allowed to adopt from Vietnam. I know this because I’m looking into adopting from Vietnam as we speak. So she didn’t cheat the system.

It’s really sad that people can’t just be happy that an innocent child left a horrible life in an orphanage and is going to a life where he will never have to worry about getting adequate medical care, food, education and love.

- Grace on March 18th, 2007

I didn’t catch the Washington Post or BBC coverage, but People magazine says, “Because Vietnamese law makes it difficult for unmarried couples to adopt, Jolie applied solo …” (posted March 15, online). “Makes it difficult” to me says there’s no category in the paperwork–not that it’s prohibited.

- Fynn on March 18th, 2007