THE PRICE OF CHILDREN is an astonishing account of how the Vatican and American Catholic Church sent nearly 4,000 Italian children to the United States for adoption between 1950 to 1970, falsely labeling them “war orphans” and later “orphans.” These children had been born to thousands of unwed Italian mothers who, confronted with religious stigmas and social pressures of the time, were forced to relinquish their babies. Some mothers signed forms they didn’t understand; others were lied to or told their baby had died.
Laurino’s investigation began with a revelation from her own family—she discovered that her cousin had been one of these babies adopted from Italy. Now told through the voices of its perpetrators and victims, THE PRICE OF CHILDREN reveals stories of cruelty and corruption, of shameful decisions made by the powerful over the powerless. Beyond this shocking story, Laurino’s work speaks to the legacy of patriarchy and how ancient Christian beliefs about female purity continue to affect women’s place in the world today.
Today, millions of Americans are proclaiming, “We’re not going back,” in response to the decision of a Catholic majority of Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v. Wade.
THE PRICE OF CHILDREN is a riveting reminder of a time when families were torn apart and lives ruined because powerful religious forces and a compliant government dictated the course of women’s lives.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Maria Laurino is an American author, essayist, and journalist. She is the author of Were You Always an Italian?, a bestselling memoir exploring how class prejudice and stereotypes affected Italian-American identity; the memoir Old World Daughter, New World Mother, a meditation on contemporary feminism; and The Italian Americans: A History, the companion book to a national public television documentary. A former staff writer for the Village Voice, Laurino’s journalism has appeared in numerous publications including the New York Times, The New Republic, Washington Post, Nation, and Salon, and her essays have been widely anthologized. Laurino teaches creative nonfiction in the undergraduate writing program at New York University and lives in New York City.