Material Mom Fit For Second Adoption?

(CBS)  The Material Girl is at it again.

A court official in the African nation of Malawi says Madonna has applied to adopt another orphan.

Madonna has been here before, and that adoption of her son David was controversial enough. Now she's apparently going back for more -- more children and more controversy, reports CBS News correspondent Mark Phillips.

This time it's Mercy -- a 4-year-old orphan, who is already reportedly in the hands of Madonna's staff at a luxury resort in Malawi. A court case is scheduled to be heard on Monday and Madonna is expected to be in country for it.

Of course, Madonna's life is a lot different this time around, following her divorce from Guy Ritchie. And a Malawian adoption official has been quoted saying that "connectedness to a family" is a fundamental condition for approval. Madonna's insistence on going ahead with this adoption is said to have been a major point of friction between her and her former husband.

Last time the controversy centered around Madonna's use of her money and her celebrity status to facilitate a quick -- some thought -- ego-driven adoption. This time the controversy is greater. She can provide wealth and comfort, critics say, but can she provide a real family?

Madonna, for her part, says controversy is inevitable.

"If you're a celebrity, adopting a child is not a very private thing, unfortunately, because it is something that involves the government and a lot of bureaucracy and there's just no way that it's going to be private," Madonna had said on May 22, 2006 early in the process of adopting her son, David.

If she wins … controversy. If she loses ... embarrassment. And either way, the welfare of a child in the balance.

[everdreaming-2009]

WHO CARES ... let her adopt 10,000 kids ... she has the money to support them. Good for her.

[keithle1]

Why are celebs like Madonna & Angelina "addicted" to kids: having them & adopting them. It never seems to end. Are they nuts? Maybe it's the hip thing to do right now.
If I was Lourdes, I wouldn't appreciate some strange boy from Malawi of all places showing up at my house to be my new little brother.

[brianbwb-2009]

"Material Mom"???

Boy not only is the writer of that line a couple decades out of touch, but obviously missed the meaning of the song, it was a parody of materialism, not a statement of claim.

As far as the child, if she can afford it, and truly cares for the children, then more power to her, and to the children, but seriously CBS, there is much more important stuff we need to know

[saturn05]

Who says she is not deserving and is a great mother. Have there been reports of abuse, neglect or that her children are in the news everyday for questionable acts. Why shouldn't she use her power and money to adopt a child. No one else wants this child and she is willing to offer this child a home that is probably as healthy and fun as any other, with the exception that their playroom is probably the size of my whole house. Good for Madonna.

[bradkt1]

It's easy to take cheap shots at Madonna and I am definitely NOT a Madonna fan or admirer. However, I think that she should be applauded for offering a young child a far better life than he or she otherwise would have had...and for making a lifetime committment to do so. One doesn't adopt a child as a spur-of-the-monent ego trip. Adoptong a child is a lifetime committment...both legally and morally.

[matoosaferre]

I think Madonna should adopt that entire country. The old bag has more money than all of the AIG executives and the entire continent of Africa, The bigger point here is: we don't care - Madonna is OOLLDD news . . .

[displeased]

"She can provide wealth and comfort, critics say, but can she provide a real family?"

And if they deny the adoption, what will most likely be the child's other options? Being Malawi has a low life expectancy, has a high prevalence of AIDS, is one of the world's least developed countries, and has about a 50% poverty rate (Wikipedia).

[pd86]

WHO IN THE HELL CARES???