Adoption of Gregory

We affirm decrees of the Probate Court for Plymouth County which, at the suit of the Department of Social Services (Department), declared pursuant to G. L. c. 210, § 3, that the consent of the parents, the Johnsons (not their real name), is not required .in connection with any petition for the adoption of their three children, whom we shall call Gregory, Christine, and Renee.

As is so often the case in proceedings of this sort, the record is lengthy and some of it is diffuse. We attempt a short account of the case; then go into some further detail; and finally deal with the contentions of the…