N.J. woman refuses to meet daughter she gave up for adoption after being raped over 30 years ago

[Priscilla Sharp]

247. Yes, actually

I have had experience with thousands of adoption search cases and have personally solved about 400 in the past five years. The non-ID report would give as complete a socio-economic-religious-education report about the parents and extended birth family as possible, including circumstances surrounding the birth and relinquishment. They would be particularly careful, as a matter of fact to point out an allegation of rape because they know we find mothers every day and would want to forewarn us of possible problems. Regardless of the circumstances of conception, birth and relinquishment, more than 95% of mothers are happy to be found and look forward to a continuing relationship with their lost son/daughter. We had one particularly tragic case where the mother was impregnated by her own father. She has risen above the horrible circumstances and has welcomed her son with open arms. She does not blame the innocent child for the acts of the rapist-father.

Every human being has a right to their original identity, family history and heritage, and the identity of those to whom they are blood related (if only to prevent innocent incest). Their family are entitled to accept a relationship or to be left in privacy. In this case, Ms Penn tried to contact her mother 15 years ago through the family attorney who turned out to be Ms Foley's son-in-law, was rejected, and has honored Ms Foley's demand to be left alone ever since. It is Ms Foley and her husband who have been going to the press, testifying at the NJ legislature in opposition to adoptees' right to know, set up her website, written her books, hired a publicist, and is now initiating these newspaper articles, which are filled with lies and false innuendoes, to peddle her books. She gave Ms Penn's name to the Daily News reporter and is now trying to get on talk shows. Ms Penn was contacted yesterday by Dr Phil and as of this morning decided not to participate further in this distasteful mess. We have encouraged her to seek legal counsel now that Ms Foley's false allegations have become public.