At last, there is a voice in the Chicago Tribune that is dealing with reality about the Baby Richard case, and there isn’t even one reference to biological father Otakar Kirchner as the devil. I am referring to Eric Zorn’s column of June 20.
If you read Bob Greene, you would have never found out that the adoptive parents, the Warburtons, kept Mr. Kirchner from all contacts (even phone calls, even letters, even pictures) with his son for four years. Greene always painted Mr. Kirchner in the vilest of ways, while never once mentioning the Warburtons’ cold refusal of all attempts of a father to have contact with his only child.
Eric Zorn points out that Otakar Kirchner is doing to the Warburtons exactly what they did to him and why he might feel justified in doing so. The Warburtons (still insulting, still openly contemptuous of Kirchner) are now trying to tell him exactly what’s wrong with his fathering skills, while whining that they aren’t allowed any visits.
When the Warburtons wake up to reality and don’t talk to the media about any Kirchner family shortcomings, I (like Eric Zorn) would hope that Mr. Kirchner would find it in his heart to forgive the Warburtons and allow them occasional visits with the boy. But if Otakar Kirchner allows those visits before the passing of four long years, the Warburtons should regard themselves as undeservedly lucky.
