An Adoptee Reaching out to the Episcopal Church

I wrote this email to The Rev. Jayne Oasin last week, "I'm writing to learn whether the Episcopal Church has any ministry in place or in development regarding the rights of adoptees to open records. I'm an adoptee working in New York for open records. Legislation in both houses is pending, S235 and A2277. These bills would allow an adoptee (18 or older) the right to obtain a copy of his original birth certificate.

This matter is a nationwide question. There is a particularly powerful lobby in Washington, the National Council for Adoption, that is supporting the right of privacy for original parents. This organization has strong ties to the Church of the Latter Day Saints. The ACLU also seems to support this position. I don't know how Integrity feels about it. Other adoption groups contest this so-called right both as a right that supersedes the right to know and as a matter of fact, birthmoms didn't expect such a thing or ask for it. My own mom expected that I would search for her and find her. She didn't understand how I would come to understand a "closed adoption."

There are also related justice questions. For instance international adoptions have been cited with human rights violations involving human trafficking. Reproductive tourism is on the rise as well.

Please let me know if there is interest in knowing more about this. I think it is an urgent concern that will have further implications as we see children of surrogate parents coming of age in the present and future. Embryo-implant procedures will also produce children whose experience must be considered. But prior to their coming of age, the experience of adoptees and surrogacy adults must be heard, in my opinion. Organizations like Snowflake will have important effect and I'm sure some Episcopalians will soon be involved with it, it not already.

Thank you,
Mark Diebel+"

I'll let you know what happens.