There’s all kinds of things that may have happened here.
For instance, there is a case like this around now where it was two women in a lesbian relationship that had a child. The woman that bore the child, on breakup, considered the child hers. (The other had no true relationship other than adoption).
The real mother got out and married a man. She started to raise the girl as a Christian, and the adoptive lesbian mom came after her like gangbusters. I think the adoptive mom was actually able to steal the child due to a pro gay judge in Vermont.
I wouldn’t be surprised if it turns out this man took off with someone else, and this women’s religious life put him on a guilt trip. I’ve seen that happen a lot. They WONT be told it wasn’t right to get a divorce and go off with another woman. Of course, that’s just a guess.
The other had no true relationship other than adoption
Unless procurred illegally, the adoption relationship is seen legally as binding and valid as the bio relationship