); Illegitimate children could contaminate the morals of society so had to be hidden and illegally adopted
Adopted people and survivors of mother and baby homes say forced adoption was widespread, regardless of what the commission says. By Órla Ryan Sunday 17 Jan 2021, 8:00 AM Jan 17th 2021, 8:00 AM 33,005 Views 0 Comments File photo Source: Shutterstock/ChameleonsEye
SURVIVORS AND CAMPAIGNERS have criticised how the final report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes deals with the issue of adoption.
The long-awaited report – which was published on Tuesday and can be read here - said the commission found “little evidence” of forced adoption.
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As the report outlines, this mood of sexual repression extended to “evil literature”, “immodesty in female dress”, “the dangers of dancing” and “condemnation of company-keeping”.
The torturing with shame of mothers has had such a profound effect that women whose children were adopted decades ago often still cannot come to terms with forming a relationship with them if they try to get in touch. They can still struggle to bring their parallel lives together.
We may live in a supposedly liberal, tolerant republic, but adoption is still covered in a veil of secrecy.
A government-commissioned report released Tuesday found a shocking number of deaths and widespread abuses at religious institutions in Ireland for unwed mothers and their children. Survivors say the document is a small step toward accountability after decades of horrors.
Irish prime minister Micheal Martin on Wednesday formally apologised for the treatment of unmarried women and their babies in state and church-run homes, where thousands of children died over decades.