Catholic agency helps unite adopted children with biological parents

Published: 2005-06-30

DUBUQUE, Iowa (CNS) -- Since October 2000, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Dubuque has had in place an "active registry" adoption search program. This means that when the agency receives a written request from either an adopted person or a biological parent to act as an intermediary in determining the identity of the other party and assisting in meetings between the parties, Catholic Charities will take an active role in trying to locate the person and make contact. Catholic Charities pregnancy counselor JoAnn Weitz said the reasons most often stated for initiating a search are: needing an updated medical history, wanting a sense of identity or wholeness, needing closure to the adoption experience or feeling curious about one's heritage. Often people seek to make contact because they are involved in a major life event, she said. She emphasized the importance of clear communication and respect for boundaries in a search.

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