Wherever people agree that families seem fundamental to the ordered
nature of society, other social institutions such as the state
and organised religion will make special provisions for families
and will support (in word and/or in deed) the idea of the family.
This can however lead to problems if conflicting loyalties arise.
Thus the Biblical prescription: "every one that hath forsaken
houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife,
or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold,
and shall inherit everlasting life" (Matthew 19, 29). Totalitarian
states also can develop ambiguous attitudes to families, which
they may perceive as potentially interfering with the fostering
of official ideology and practice. Different attitudes to divorce
and to denunciation may develop in this light.
The Office of Children’s Issues provides information and
assistance about the adoption process in over 60 countries, including:
Information about visa requirements and other U.S. requirements
for international adoption. Information about The Hague Intercountry
Adoption Convention, and coordination with other countries about
the treaty and related matters. |
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