(Deu 24:17 ESV) You shall not pervert the justice due to the sojourner or to the fatherless …

A couple who have been friends of mine for many years — Greg and Tesney Davis — are trying to adopt a Down’s Syndrome baby from Russia. They have one child by birth but feel a calling from God to reach out to a Down’s Syndrome infant. Through a series of circumstances, they were led to Russia and to a baby there named Kirill.

The judge who must approve the adoption found them to be a well-qualified family. Tesney is a social worker and has considerable experience working with Down’s children.

And yet the judge refused to grant the adoption because the baby is “not socially adaptable” due to his “medical condition” and he was better off in an institution than in a home with a family. The judge urged them to adopt a “typical” child instead.

The couple have 10 days to appeal, but the lawyer who’d been handling their case, and who was very sympathetic to their efforts, has refused to handle the case. The powers-that-be let it be known that handling the appeal would not be good for his career.

The adoption agency suggested that the only solution for them would be to bring political pressure on the Russia government by publicizing this outrageous, inhuman decision. If the appeal fails, it’s likely there will be no Down’s Syndrome adoptions from Russia for many years.

I’m looking for help finding contacts in national media outlets that might take up the story. We have plenty of ideas for what media would be helpful. What we need are contacts — people with The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, CNN, CBS, or similar national media that can help us get the word out quickly.

I can be reached at jfguin(at)comcast(dot)net if anyone has contact information that can help with the cause.

The judge’s attitude reflects the broader Russian cultural attitude, which is very negative toward the mentally disabled. The Associated Press reports that Russia is —

a country with a history of pressuring parents into placing mentally disabled children in institutions, where abuse and neglect were rampant. Although attitudes are slowly changing, activists say that the vast majority of children with Down syndrome still end up in the state’s care and that cruelty still abounds in orphanages.

Whether you have national media contacts or not, please keep Greg and Tesney in your prayers.