The Child Catchers: Criticism of the Orphan Care Movement

Interview with Kathryn Joyce, author of The Child Catchers: Rescue, Trafficking, and the New Gospel of Adoption– a new book that is highly critical of the evangelical orphan care and adoption movement. Joyce criticized the religious involvement into international adoption, and those who seek to adopt a US baby.

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Hit the Highlights

How was the title chosen?
Is the “orphan crisis” a myth?
How does the significant shift in international adoption towards adopting older children, children with special needs, and sibling groups fit into Joyce’s critique of the orphan care movement?
Who was to blame for the ethical and educational failures of Liberian adoption?
What is the take home message to prevent adoption abuses?
What role/blame does Joyce assign to adoption agencies for adoption abuses?
How is the orphan care movement tied up in these abuses?
I was surprised by the lack of reference to adoption research. The book relied almost exclusively on anecdotal reports rather than research.
What are some of the ethical issues with international adoption, and what role does the evangelical orphan care/adoption ministry fit in?
What happens to the numbers of abandoned or relinquished children in orphanages once a country shuts down international adoption?
What abuses does she see in international adoptions from Korea?
Why does she see religion as the culprit?
What are the domestic infant adoption abuses Joyce sees in adopting a baby in the US?
Why did she not cover the emphasis on foster care adoption by the orphan ministry movement?