A Malawian judge held a closed-door hearing Monday on Madonna's application to adopt a second child from this southern African nation but delayed ruling on the matter until Friday, a court official said. The 50-year-old pop star spent about an hour in court Monday in the Malawi capital of Lilongwe. Court official Thomson Ligowe confirmed that Madonna's adoption application was adjourned until Friday but said he could not reveal any more details. Monday's court docket listed only the child's name Chifundo James, which means “Mercy” in a local language. It was not immediately known whether any of the girl's relatives were present at the courthouse Monday. A Malawian welfare official and another person involved in the adoption proceedings say the girl is about 4 years old and her unmarried mother died soon after she was born. The girl's father is believed to be alive but no other details were available. More criticism erupted over the weekend, with the Save the Children UK charity saying the recently divorced superstar risked sending the wrong message by going through with the second adoption. It said adoptions from orphanages encourages poor parents “to abandon children in the hope that they will have a better life.” Some Malawians have said, though, that they support Madonna in her effort to adopt the little girl. “We are blessed for what Madonna is doing here,” said E. Ngulinga, who was among the onlookers gathered outside the courthouse Monday. “That baby is going to have the advantages of going to school and of becoming someone,” he said. “Here it is very difficult.” Ngulinga said.
