Celebrity Baby Blog is reporting that actor Maurice Bernard and his wife, Paula, have adopted her teen-aged sister following the death of her mother.

I remember watching Mr. Bernard on All My Children when I was in college in the early 80's. He's also native to the San Francisco Bay Area where I grew up. He's been an incredible champion of getting the word out about bi-polar disorder, which he suffers from, and though I don't have it, I have struggled with Dysthemia and Depression. So, because of our many parallels, I've always admired him. It cheers my heart to hear this wonderful news, though sad because of the circumstances through which the adoption became necessary.

Another amazing adoptive dad is actor James Caviezel. He and his wife, Kerri, just adopted their second child, a daughter, from China. Like their first son, Bo, this child also suffers from a brain tumor. Mr. Caviezel, states that they had the option to adopt a child that did not have a special health consideration, but his concern was that perhaps the child might not find an adoptive home. Since he and his wife already had experience with this particular issue, their hearts were touched.

The Passion of the Christ star commendably said:

It didn't matter to me because the joy that we had from [Bo] -- he's like our own. We took the harder road. That is what faith is to me; it's action. It's the Samaritan. It's not the one who says he is; it's the one who does -- and does without bringing attention to himself. I'm saying this because I want to encourage other people.

In other international adoption news, noted talk show commentator, Laura Ingraham, just adopted a daughter, Maria Caroline, from Guatamala.

Actress Brooke Smith (“Grey's Anatomy”) and husband, Steve, have adopted a second daughter. Lucy is Ethopian by birth, and is currently seven months old.

Congratulations to all the new adoptive parents!

Photo credit