MADONNA MALAWI ADOPTION REJECTED

Madonna lost her chance to adopt a 3year old girl from Malawi named Mercy. A Malawi court judge rejected her adoption.  Madonna's adoption bid was met with controversy and protests from Mercy's grandmother who did not want Madge to use her celebrity to take the child away from relatives.  Can you believe it took a village to say no to Madonna?  Madonna threw a lavish party to celebrate but now is leaving empty handed and without Mercy. Nobody says no to Madonna remember Truth or Dare? Madge always gets what she wants. Madonna's nasty Guy Ritchie divorce, Arod affair and Jesus adoption aren't good ways to improve her public image.

A judge in Malawi showed Madonna no mercy.

The Material Girl, who was trying to adopt a second child from the impoverished African nation, rejected the star's bid to adopt a 3-year-old girl.

The court ruling on Friday cited a residency requirement, a lawyer and a judge not involved in the case told the Associated Press. Prospective parents have to live in Malawi for at least 18 months before adopting.

A court waived the rule in 2006 when Madonna was able to take her son, David, 3, out of the country before finalizing the adoption. Critics charged the Material Mom got special treatment.

Madonna, 50, who has homes in London and New York City, hoped to adopt Chifundo "Mercy" James, whose mother died at age 14. Court papers show the 3-year-old girl's uncle consented to the adoption.

News of her attempts to adopt Mercy sparked debate around the world. Some argued that the girl should be cared for by her extended family. Others praised Madonna, saying the girl would enjoy a better life with the pop star.

Government officials endorsed the adoption as recently as Thursday, but the decision was in the hands of the judge.

"We have close to 2 million orphans in Malawi who need help," Women and Child Welfare Development Minister Anna Kachiko told the Associated Press. "We can't look after all of them as a country. If people like Madonna adopt even one such orphan, it's one mouth less we have to feed."

Madonna filmed a documentary in Malawi in 2006, detailing the crippling AIDS crisis and poverty there.

This time she made the trip with daughter Lourdes, 12, and son Rocco, 8. She also brought along David, who saw his biological father for the first time since the boy left Africa three years ago.[NYDN]