people of Malawi and my friends around the world , '' she said . The judge who ruled against the adoption said she had `` a gripping temptation '' to approve it , but decided doing so would open doors to child trafficking , court records show . `` Anyone could come to Malawi and quickly arrange for an adoption that might have grave consequences on the very children that the law seeks to protect , '' Justice E.J. Chombo wrote in her ruling . The judge also said she thought the child was in good hands at an orphanage . Another Malawian judge approved Madonna 's adoption of David Banda in 2006 . Chombo 's ruling followed weeks of criticism by human-rights activists , who accused the mother of three of using her fame to circumvent a residency law for foreigners adopting in the southern African country . Save the Children UK had also urged Madonna to let the child be raised by her relatives in her home community . The denial was applauded by a coalition of Malawian nonprofits . `` Inter-country adoption is not the best way of providing protection to children . ... Supporting children from
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Madonna said she hopes the Malawian girl she wants to adopt and the boy she already adopted `` will one day return to Malawi and help the people of their country . '' A judge has rejected Madonna 's adoption application . A Malawian judge this month rejected the American pop star 's petition to adopt 3-year-old Chifundo `` Mercy '' James , but her lawyer has filed an appeal . `` I want to provide Mercy with a home , a loving family environment and the best education and health care possible , '' Madonna said in an e-mail to The Nation , a Malawian newspaper . `` And it 's my hope that she , like David , will one day return to Malawi and help the people of their country . '' Madonna 's statement , which her publicist provided to CNN , steered away from commenting on her legal battle . `` Though I have been advised that I can not publicly discuss the pending appeal regarding my desire to adopt Mercy , I do want to say how much I appreciate the level of support that I have received from the