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The Church of England is preparing to apologise for its involvement in forced adoptions that occurred in the decades following World War Two, the BBC has learned. During this period, tens of thousands of babies were taken from their unmarried mothers, often without genuine consent. The Church operated approximately 100 mother and baby homes across England, where unmarried pregnant women were sent to be concealed from society.
One such woman was Jan Doyle, who at 16 became pregnant and was placed in a mother and baby home in Kent. Reflecting on her time there, she described the conditions as harsh and demanding. “If the floors needed washing, we would have to get down on our hands and knees, even though we were pregnant,” she said. “I think I was down on my hands and knees the day before my son was born.” These homes were part of a system that saw many women coerced into giving up their children, with an estimated 185,000 babies affected between 1949 and 1976, according to Parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights.
The Church has drafted an apology acknowledging the lifelong impact on the mothers and children involved and recognizing the harm caused by attitudes and actions now seen as harmful. The draft reads, “For the pain and trauma experienced – and still carried – by many women and children in Church affiliated mother and baby homes, we are deeply sorry.” Experts such as Dr Michael Lambert from Lancaster University have highlighted the importance of an official apology, suggesting it would help shift the narrative from one of shame to recognition of the systemic damage inflicted on thousands of families.
This forthcoming apology from the Church of England follows similar statements from other institutions. In 2016, Cardinal Vincent Nichols apologised on behalf of adoption agencies linked to the Catholic Church, while the Scottish and Welsh governments issued their apologies in 2023. The Church’s move may increase pressure on the UK government, which has yet to formally apologise despite the fact that many mother and baby homes received state funding. Children and Families Minister Josh MacAlister recently acknowledged the state’s involvement and said a comprehensive apology is “being actively considered” and that the need for it is “urgent.” Survivors like Jan Doyle remain cautiously hopeful, emphasizing that any apology must be sincere and meaningful to be accepted
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