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If American missionaries in Haiti had the consent of parents to take children, should they face child abduction charges?


A group of ten American missionaries faces charges of child abduction and criminal association after trying to take 33 Haitian children into the neighboring Dominican Republic.

They say, even though they knew not all the children were orphaned, that they had parental consent. Should they face charges?

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  • Abduction is the wrongful and usually forcible carrying away of a victim. The carrying away may have been wrongful, it was not forcible. Considering the expenses this Church has run up in travel and future legal, a direct donation to an established aid organization would have done so much more good. I hope this will be a reminder for others looking to get involved. Also it would be assuring to those of us who have donated to see the government of Haiti as concerned about the millions of children who are actually in danger!

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    I think the missionairies did wrong, but I do not think they should serve prison time. Why do we let Madonna get away with adopting a child away from his parents in Africa, but throw the book at these people?

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    As a law student, I know there are certain aspects that must be looked into. Such as, the fact that there were signed documentation from parents of the children. As for the orphans, the Missionaries were doing what was right even though they did not bring the children back to the United States for solice, and a new beginning. There are plenty of people here, (who after being thoroughly screened), would adopt them and give them a better life. Without intentional malice, NO, the Missionaries should not face charges, nor feel guilty, or even be accused, of what they have been accused of at this point. I also believe that the Haitian and Dominican Governments should, for humane reasons and to show their humanity, allow these people to help by helping them to understand to ask for the Governments help also. The Missionaries should have gotten the parents to sign the documentation at a Government Office or Consulate. But they should not be charged with any crime because malice was NOT what was leading them to their actions. Finally, the documentation should also have been signed by a police officer as a witness, or some other official, to show that what was done was without malice.



    Definitely a problem. In this case I would suggest the after another week or two of investigation Haiti throw them out of the country. Haiti does need to enforce the law but that last thing Haiti needs is to deal with a bunch of foolish Americans. One also wonders how may other relief workers are in Haiti without proper authorization, such as practicing medicine without a license admittedly not "kidnapping" but illegal nonetheless. One also wonders if there will be a donor "backlash" if these foolish people are actually prosecuted.



    Hi All....tell me what is the difference between these simple church folk and the Dem (witted) Gov that stopped 2 plane loads of medical doc's and supplies so he could fly out a few so called orphans( those 2 planes were turned away - one went to DR the other I do not remember)? At least these church folks were not leaving the island. Other plane loads of orphans are being hauled out too, why is it only this group is being cornered? How are we so sure those others kids are orphans too? Why are we so sure that because the big NGO'S are there that they are the only ones who can do the job - may I remind you how long they have been there in the first place and how little has been done. Since when is bigger better? If I remember my news stories right it was the little guys staying out all night in the towns while the big outfits ran to the safety of the airport, and I might add there are other stories like that in the news. What I wonder is this - if a lot of little guys get in there and start serving the people hands on how will the corrupt officials get the money from their normal NGO sources? If only the big guys serve the people through the corrupt government then business can continue as always, with a filtering of what is handed out little by little till it reaches the person on the street which will amount- as history shows - to hardly nothing. now tell me why I should give anything any longer........these church folks are being made into scapegoats to put fear into the small timers helping people because corruption is harder to work on them.



    The missionaries are being held in squalid conditions in a system that does not have public trials or share our concepts of due process. Our government is willing to spend millions and risk public safety to protect the rights of GITMO detainees, but they will not lift a finger to help U.S. citizens on a mission trip to Haiti. It is a sad day when the rights of terrorists are considered more important than young Americans who travelled to Haiti to help earthquake victims.


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