The Church of England's long-awaited apology for its role in forced adoptions has been met with a mix of relief and disappointment. For decades, thousands of babies were forcibly taken from their mothers in institutions affiliated with the Church between the 1940s and 1980s, leaving behind a trail of pain, trauma, and stigma that still lingers today.
Archbishop Sarah Mullally's statement acknowledged the Church's culpability in the historical adoption practices, stating "We are profoundly sorry for the pain, trauma and stigma experienced, and still carried, by many people because of historical adoption practices in homes affiliated to the Church of England." The Archbishop highlighted the testimonies of mothers who had few meaningful choices, were forced into menial work as a form of 'correction', and faced prejudice on grounds of race and disability. This was not an isolated issue; it was part of a wider network of institutions, including those run by Catholic organisations and the Salvation Army.
Anglican mother and baby homes were notorious for forcing unmarried women to give birth in secret, subsequently pressuring or compelling them to hand over their babies for adoption by married couples. The Church's research project drew on incomplete records and survivor testimonies to understand its role within a system shaped by the social attitudes and laws of the era, where unmarried mothers faced significant stigma and limited support.
The Church has acknowledged that while its Moral Welfare Council's guidance aimed to keep mothers and babies together, this was "not always followed in practice." It admitted involvement with potentially more than 200 homes, estimating the number of affected mothers and babies to be in the "tens of thousands" within a "decentralised" system. The Church noted varying standards and experiences between homes, often shaped by limited resources and wider societal pressures.
Phil Frampton, a survivor born in an Anglican institution in 1953, hailed the apology as a "huge and historic victory." However, the Adult Adoptee Movement criticised the apology for lacking "no offer of redress or support" and accused the Church of downplaying its role. Engaging with the Church's apology process was reportedly distressing and re-traumatising for many survivors.
Archbishop Mullally paid tribute to the survivors, stating "The shame you were made to feel was wrong… we are deeply ashamed that this happened to people in the care of Christian communities." She concluded by affirming the Church's commitment to listen, lament, and learn from its history, ensuring that such injustices are never repeated.