Church of England to issue apology for role in 'harmful' historical forced adoptions
The Church of England is to apologise for its role in historical forced adoptions, ITV News Social Affairs Correspondent Sarah Corker and Senior Producer Lottie Kilraine report
The Church of England is planning to issue an apology for its role in the practice of historical forced adoption, ITV News understands.
In post-war Britain an estimated 250,000 unmarried women were sent to institutions run by religious organisations - including the Church of England - and the state, where they were pressured and coerced to put their babies up for adoption between the 1940s and 1980s. Other infants died through poor care.
The Church of England operated and funded 107 mother and baby homes and had over 30 adoption agencies.
In a draft seen by ITV News, the Church apologises “for the pain and trauma experienced – and still carried - by many women and children in Church-affiliated mother and baby homes."
It continues: “We acknowledge the lifelong impact of these experiences and the part the Church played in a system - shaped by attitudes and behaviours that we now recognise as harmful.”
“Where our words or actions fell short of what a Christian community should embody, we feel sorrow and shame, and we apologise to all those who have been hurt.”
Dr Michael Lambert, from Lancaster University, who has spent a decade examining these institutions, said the Church of England was the significant player in historical forced adoptions, second only to the state.
"It ran the most homes, it had the most adoption agencies, it was the central institution of the time," he told ITV News.
"I think, particularly for those mothers, hearing an apology from the church would perhaps mean more than one coming from the state.
"Bearing in mind the strong religious connotations - ideas of sin, of shame, of having transgressed. Lots of people would have lived with these and internalised these for their entire lives.
Dr Michael Lambert, from Lancaster University, told ITV News the Church of England was the significant player in historic forced adoptions, second only to the state
"Hearing from the institution that they in fact did nothing wrong will mean a great deal," he added.
ITV News understands that the Church of England has been working with survivor groups on the wording of this apology since last year, a process being co-ordinated by Bishop Joanne Grenfell, the Church's safeguarding lead.
The Archbishop of Canterbury is also taking a close, personal interest, we have been told.
All of this will only increase pressure on the government to also formally acknowledge its role in these cruel practices.
This is a significant moment for survivors. Many have been campaigning for decades for the church and state to be open and transparent about the trauma they endured.
The campaign group the Adult Adoptee Movement welcomed the Church of England's intention to apologise but said it is "essential that any apology is preceded by a full consultation with mother and adult adoptee survivors" to understand the damage done.
"It is also important that it recognises the full scale of the Church’s involvement," the statement continued. "The Church must work with survivors on a package of appropriate support measures."
The Movement for an Adoption Apology (MAA) echoed this. The campaign group told ITV News it was "pleased" to hear an apology was being considered.
"We look forward to discussing and co-authoring any apology. It is important that the Church takes responsibility for what was done and apologises, then makes amends by providing appropriate support measures for all affected."
Today's development will add more pressure on the government.
Last week, Sir Keir Starmer said his "instinct" is to issue a government apology for the state's role in the forced adoption scandal, in an exclusive interview with ITV News.
The prime minister admitted "my own view is there is a very strong case for an apology", adding that he wants to make sure the government involves survivors in the process.
"I've asked the teams to speed up what we're doing, I want to get this right with the campaigners and all those affected," he added.
The same day a cross-party committee of MPs said that the government must issue a formal, unqualified apology to survivors of forced adoption who have "suffered for too long".
The practice caused "unimaginable trauma” for generations of women and left “profound, often devastating impacts” on their children, the Chair of the Education Committee, Helen Hayes, said.
The committee has called for the government to commit to an apology for the state's role in the scandal, with MPs saying the matter must be treated with urgency “given the advancing age of those affected”.
Sir Keir Starmer said 'his instinct' is to issue a government apology for the state's role in the forced adoption scandal, in an exclusive interview with ITV News last week
The damning report comes after an ongoing ITV News investigation has laid bare the trauma and neglect faced by both mothers and their children, now adults, many of whom are still searching for answers or have since died.
ITV News' years-long investigation into the forced adoption scandal has already revealed hundreds of unmarked graves of babies born in state and church-run homes across England, with allegations that sick or premature children were left to die as they weren’t deemed "desirable" for adoption.
Last year, we revealed nearly 200 infants who died at eight mother and baby homes are buried in mass plots in ten different cemeteries across England.
To this day, families are still searching for their lost children connected to these post-war institutions.
A government spokesperson previously told ITV News: “This abhorrent practice should never have taken place, and our deepest sympathies are with all those affected.
“We take this issue extremely seriously and continue to engage with those affected to provide support.”
If you have been affected by the issues in this report, please visit these links for help and support:
Movement for Adoption Apology - provides information on forced and coerced adoption in the UK and around the globe
Adult Adoptee Movement - provides information and support for adult adoptees around the UK
PAC UK - Specialist therapy, advice, support, counselling and training for all affected by adoption and permanency
The Diocese of Winchester has issued an appeal for information, find out more on their website here
Safe Spaces - an independent service offering confidential support to survivors of Church-related abuse on 0300 303 1056 or on their website
Samaritans is an organisation offering confidential support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair. Phone 116 123 (a free 24-hour helpline)
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