The Dark Shadows Looming Over Holt International Children Services.

In the world of international adoption, Holt International Children Services has long been regarded as a beacon of hope for desperate adoptive parents seeking grateful children. However, recent revelations have cast a pall over the agency’s reputation. Hiring David Cousineau, a former priest accused of sexually molesting an 11-year-old girl for four years, raises serious concerns about Holt’s commitment to the well-being of the children they serve. As adult adoptees, the skepticism and distrust that have emerged in the wake of these revelations are a natural response to the breach of trust between an organization and its beneficiaries.

Unmasking the Shadows: The David Cousineau Affair

Holt International’s decision to hire David Cousineau, a man with a deeply troubling history, has ignited a firestorm of controversy and betrayal. The accusations against Cousineau date back to his time as a Roman Catholic priest in Los Angeles, during which he allegedly sexually molested an underage girl for an appalling span of four years. Despite this dark cloud hanging over him, Cousineau was appointed as the executive director of an Oregon adoption agency, entrusted with generating millions in grants and donations. The glaring question that arises is how an organization dedicated to child welfare failed to conduct a comprehensive background check on an individual in a position of power.

A Pattern of Negligence: Holt’s Failure to Protect Vulnerable Children

One key element that has driven adult adoptees to lose trust in Holt International is the organization’s apparent lack of vigilance in ensuring the safety and well-being of the children they serve. Articles like “A Broke Home” and “L.A. Confidentiality” have highlighted instances where Holt’s decisions seem to have favored financial gain over the safety of vulnerable children. It’s a disturbing revelation that casts doubts on the agency’s priorities and principles.

Broken Trust: When an Institution Fails to Protect

The case of David Cousineau echoes a broader pattern of institutional negligence within Holt International. The allegation that Cousineau’s misconduct went unchecked for years during his tenure as a Roman Catholic priest raises serious concerns about the adequacy of Holt’s background checks. Adult adoptees now question whether they can trust an agency that claims to have children’s best interests at heart but seems to have overlooked a deeply problematic aspect of its leadership.

The Unsettling Reality: Holt’s Financial Motives and Adoptee Distrust

As more details emerge about Holt’s practices, a disconcerting picture begins to form. The agency’s decision to charge exorbitant fees of $60,000 per child, cleverly disguised as a service, intensifies adoptees’ skepticism. Despite his controversial background, the fact that Holt managed to generate millions in grants and donations under David Cousineau’s leadership paints a picture of an institution more interested in financial success than the genuine welfare of the children in their care.

An Unveiling of Truth and the Future of Trust

Holt International Children Services, once regarded as a savior for children in need, now finds itself mired in controversy and distrust. The hiring of David Cousineau, a man with a deeply troubling history, and the subsequent revelations of negligence raise questions that demand answers. Holt International has not lived up to the pristine image it projected. As adult adoptees grapple with this unsettling reality, it becomes clear that the agency’s actions have shaken the foundation of trust. Holt is not the saintly institution it may have once appeared to be, and the time has come for a deep reckoning with the shadows that have been exposed.

Maybe Holt International Children Services are not saints like the evangelical stadium churches firmly believe they are.

https://www.bishop-accountability.org/news/2004_03_31_Anderson_HisPast.htm

https://www.seattlepi.com/seattlenews/article/accused-ex-priest-led-seattle-youth-home-1138810.php

https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Former+Holt+CEO+accused+of+sex+abuse.-a0118205751