In the 1950s and 1970s, a significant number of Italian children were brought to the United States through a controversial program, as reported in a recent CBS News “60 Minutes” investigation. This project, apparently run by the Vatican, allegedly sent approximately 3,500 children to American families, mostly Catholic, for adoption. The issue came to the fore again when CBS representatives delivered a letter to Pope Francis, highlighting the problems associated with this program.
According to the CBS investigation, Monsignor Andrew Landi, who worked at the former National Catholic Welfare Conference, was in charge of arranging visas for these children. However, most of them were not actually orphans. Many came from families where mothers had had pregnancies outside of marriage.
The investigation revealed that many mothers were pressured or deceived into abandoning their children. The narrative is based on the book by Maria Laurino, “The Price of the Innocents”, and includes interviews with numerous adopted adults who are still searching for their origins.
In their letter to Pope Francis, CBS representatives noted that many of the adopted adults continue to struggle to find their Italian birth mothers. They also recalled the Pope’s recent apologies regarding other forced adoption situations in Belgium. The appeal ends with a crucial question: is the Vatican considering the possibility of apologizing for adoptions that took place in the United States?
This case raises important questions about past adoption practices and the lasting impact they have had on the lives of those involved. With growing interest in these sensitive issues and a desire for reconciliation, there may be an opportunity for the Vatican to confront its past and repair the damage caused by these practices. History continues to evolve and deserves the attention not only of religious authorities but also of civil society, so that similar injustices cannot be repeated in the future.
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