FROM SUNDAY LEADER NEWS PAPER 04 DECEMBER 2011

We reported the raid by the National Child Protection Authority last Wednesday on Prem Niwasa in Rawatawatte. As the NCPA and the Criminal Investigations Department continue their investigations, mystery surrounds the identity of the local counterpart of the foreign adoption agency to whom a part of the payment of U.S. dollars ten thousand is made. Meanwhile, international media described the arrest of Sister Eliza ‘who runs a home for unwed mothers as one that is surrounded by confusion.’ Representatives of the Missionaries of Charity said that they do not receive a cent for their services. On the contrary, a fourth vow taken by the Mother Teresa’s congregation is to give wholehearted service to the poorest of the poor.

In search for the other side of the story to our article last week titled ‘Baby Shop in Rawatawatte’ in which we reported the raid on Prem Niwasa carried out by the National Child Protection Authority; this writer met with representatives of the Catholic Archdiocese and representatives of Mother Theresa’s nuns on Wednesday at the Bishop’s House.

Among those present were Father Ivan Perera, Episcopal Vicar of the Archdiocese of Colombo, Father Benedict Joseph, Media Spokesman for the Archdiocese of Colombo, Father Noel Dias, Lecturer, Sri Lanka Law College, Sr. Mary Johannes, Regional Superior of the Missionaries of Charity (Mother Teresa’s Congregation), Sr. Mary Nicolette – In Charge of the Home for the Dying Destitute in Mutwal, Colombo 15, Missionaries of Charity and Sr. Nilanthi from Caritas.
Dressed in white, with a single blue lining – the smiling missionary sisters of charity – Mother Theresa’s sisters – did not have anger, anxiety or fear in their hearts.

“Missionaries of Charity do not deal with money – for God provides…” was the opening sentence by Father Ivan Perera, Episcopal Vicar of the Archdiocese of Colombo.
Introducing Sister Mary Johannes, Regional Superior of the Missionaries of Charity (Mother Teresa’s Congregation), Father Ivan said that Sister Johannes could not visit the funeral of her own mother as she was in service.

“Normal people would not understand how these sisters manage. They are not supposed to collect money for their work and they never do, they do not have fundraisers. All our services are free. We do not take a single cent for services – all free. A normal person will not understand this. Sisters depend solely on divine providence. They do not collect funds, they get enough to carry out their charitable work and they depend on God to provide,” said Father Ivan.

“We do not expect people to understand. But Divine Providence is there. We do not have to bother, God will give….” said Father Ivan. As they sat unruffled, they answered the questions one by one…

“We are not aware of any payment being made to an Adoption Agency and we have not heard of the Horizon Adoption Agency. We do not deal with foreign adoptions. We deal with the Probation Officials who send people to us to bond with the children and spend time with them. Our priority has always been local adoption. A child is shown to four local couples and for these they have to fill forms. When a child is rejected by four local couples – it is thus noted on those forms, and the child is then considered for foreign adoption and that too by the Probation officials,” explained Sr. Mary Nicolette.

“A child is given through a court order and we always take the natural mother to the Probation Department at Nawala Road. Even there, we always tell the mother that she is free to take the child and go. It is with her consent and a letter from us stating that the child has been rejected by local couples that a child is given for foreign adoption through the court,” pointed out Sr. Mary Nicolette.

Sr. Mary Nicolette also went on to state that the home has 31 probation children, 28 home children and 12 infants without mothers and 11 children with mothers. She went on to state as the infants were with their mothers, they were not recorded in the books.
When asked about a receipt for US Dollars 10,000 paid to the Horizon Adoption Agency which was in the possession of an American couple who was present at the time of the raid; Sr. Mary Johannes, Regional Superior of the Missionaries of Charity (Mother Teresa’s Congregation), said that they had never heard of such an Adoption Agency and that if such monies were paid, it was certainly not to the home.

“There was not just one foreign couple: there were three foreign couples on that day. They had come to see the children. Most foreign couples come to bond with children and possibly to see a child. Foreign couples come with a letter of allocation from Probation Officers and children are handed over in court by a Judge in the presence of Probation Officers,” said Sr. Mary Johannes.

The sisters went on to say that on that day there was also a local couple with Rs. 35,000. They pointed out that the money was to pay lawyers’ fees.

“It is also necessary that a couple seeking to adopt a child opens a bank account in the name of the child and a part of this money was for that purpose,” pointed out Sister Nilanthi from Caritas.

“We are not aware of the receipt. We have not seen the colour of it,” said the Missionaries of Charity
While others take three vows, we the Missionary Sisters of Charity – Mother Teresa’s sisters take a fourth vow – to give our wholehearted service to the poorest of the poor, they pointed out softly.

“Whoever who comes to us, we do not turn away. It is true that there were girls who were pregnant. But it is not for us to turn them away when they are sent to us. One such girl was sent to us by the Probation authorities through a court order, another was brought by her mother, and another who was a victim of the tsunami. It is not for us to turn them away when they are in distress. Where do they go to? From the time a pregnant girl is brought we help her go through those difficult times. We take them to the clinics and ensure that they get their medication. When the baby is born, we encourage her to take the baby with her. It is not for us to study the ethics and legality. It is for us to serve…” Said Sr. Mary Johannes.

The Sisters went on to say that many of these girls are so desperate and they do not know what to do. “A child’s interest is of paramount importance…and it will be so for us too,” said the sisters.

The holy congregation expressed sadness at the way the Matron of Prem Nivasa, Sr. Eliza had been arrested. She was taken away to Wennapuwa though Prem Niwasa is in Rawatawatte and the case was heard while the lawyer was on the way . Sister Eliza was then remanded. She was taken to Welikada around midnight, they said.
Representatives of Prem Niwasa went on to say that two of the pregnant girls in their home were taken to another state home. They questioned the safety of the home and the psychological condition of the girls who were pregnant at the time, when they were taken away by the police.

“Their image has been tarnished and it is important that we understand the factual reality of adoption. The home run by the Missionaries of Charity maintains the highest standards of emotional care and provides a safe and secure environment for children in distress. They are ready to share everything – from a meal upwards. The lives of these sisters a re dedicated to service and their vocation is to go through any hardship for these children. The special characteristic of this home when compared to others is that these sisters are dedicated 24 hours of the day. They do not go home at 5 o’clock,” said Father Noel Dias.

“These sisters have left their own homes and their families behind for their lives of dedication and they have minimal contact with their families,” he added